NAGAPATTINAM: As part of a government initiative to protect sea turtles during their nesting season, fishermen in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts are set to receive Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) free of cost.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, 300 TEDs are being distributed free of cost to fishermen in Nagapattinam and 158 TEDs in Mayiladuthurai, with each device valued at Rs 23,485.
Officials said that these devices allow turtles that get caught in fishing trawl nets to escape safely without damaging the catch. However, according to official sources, there are currently 400 mechanised vessels in Nagapattinam and 200 in Mayiladuthurai, which use trawl nets.
Officials said that the second phase of providing TEDs is expected to meet the requirements. "But, TEDs are provided to the vessels which only use trawl nets and not the ones which use gill nets and trawl nets alternatively to meet the TED stock," said an official source.
"To avoid accidental catch and death of olive ridleys, the government has been providing TEDs to fishermen. We are advising the fishermen to install it immediately. If they install it, the turtle deaths by asphyxiation will decrease," said Ayub Khan, Sirkazhi forest range officer.
Officials said that to oversee turtle conservation activities, joint patrols are carried out regularly, and the movements of mechanised fishing vessels operating within five nautical miles are monitored using ISRO transponders via the Nabhmitra online application.
Cases have also been registered under the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act against fishing vessels found in violation of the rules.
"Last year, more than 120 violations by around 70 mechanised fishing vessels operating within five nautical miles were charge-sheeted, and the same efforts are being carried out this year," said Jeyaraj, Additional Director of Fisheries, Nagapattinam. In addition to enforcement, awareness plays a key role in conservation efforts. "The fisheries department, along with the Forest Department, coastal security group, coastal police, and leaders of fishermen village panchayats, has been conducting awareness campaigns in coastal villages.
During the current nesting season, 16 such awareness programmes have been organised in Nagapattinam," said Jeyaraj. In Mayiladuthurai, 14 such awareness programmes have been conducted across fishing villages.
According to sources, during the 2024-2025 olive ridley nesting season, over 40 carcasses of ridleys were recorded in Mayiladuthurai and over 20 in Nagapattinam. In the current season, one carcass in Mayiladuthurai and nine in Nagapattinam have been recorded as of January 17, and officials said the figure may increase post January if TEDs are not installed.
Rajendra Nattar, president of the India Desiya Meenavar Sangam, said fishermen welcome the government's action of providing the TEDs while adding that more demonstrations and awareness about the usage of TEDs should be spread across the community.
"We, fishermen, consider the ridleys as deities, and we always release them if they get caught in the net," said Nattar. For a greater conservation effort, officials urge the fishermen community to be cooperative and be supportive by adapting the measures to protect the ridleys.