Safeguarding India’s sea turtle nesting grounds with development

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Picture Courtesy: The Hindu

Context:

The Union Budget proposal to develop “turtle trails” along nesting coasts of Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala has sparked serious concern among marine conservationists.

What are Turtle Trails?

“Turtle trails” is a guided visitor experiences near sea turtle nesting beaches. The idea is to create designated pathways or viewing systems so tourists can learn about turtle conservation.

Olive Ridley turtles:

Olive Ridley turtles are medium-sized marine reptiles recognised by their olive-green, heart-shaped shell. They are primarily carnivorous, feeding on crustaceans, molluscs, and small fish.
A distinctive feature of this species is arribada, a rare phenomenon in which large numbers of female turtles’ nest simultaneously on the same beach.

Distribution:

• Found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
• Prefer sandy beaches for nesting and nearshore waters for feeding.
• Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha is the largest nesting and breeding site (rookery) for Olive Ridley turtles in the world.

Protection Status:

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I (prohibits international commercial trade)

Key ecological concerns raised by conservationists on turtle trails:

• Disruption from artificial lighting: Conservationists warn that artificial lighting from pathways, vehicles, resorts, and cameras can severely disrupt the nesting behaviour of the Olive Ridley sea turtle, as nesting females may abandon egg-laying and hatchlings often crawl inland instead of toward the sea, leading to high mortality.
• Disturbance due to human activity: Researchers point out that the mere presence of tourists, especially during night hours, can interrupt the sensitive and energy-intensive nesting process, causing turtles to return to the sea without laying eggs and thereby reducing reproductive success.
• Physical degradation of nesting beaches: Scientists emphasize that increased footfall on nesting beaches can compact the sand and damage buried eggs, while also making it difficult for females to dig nests in beaches that naturally function as delicate incubation zones.
• Stress from noise and movement: Conservation experts note that noise from visitors, vehicles, or tourism activities can stress turtles and discourage them from using traditional nesting beaches, which is alarming because mass nesting sites are extremely limited globally.
• Ecological impact of tourism infrastructure: Environmentalists caution that even temporary or eco-friendly structures such as walkways, viewing platforms, or lighting poles may alter beach topography and sand temperature, factors that are crucial for egg incubation and hatchling survival.
• Impact of flash and night photography: Wildlife researchers underline that camera flashes can startle nesting turtles and disorient hatchlings, which is why many global nesting beaches enforce strict bans on flash photography during nesting seasons

Conservation Initiatives in India:

Operation Olivia: Indian Coast Guard conducts Operation Olivia every year along the Odisha coast to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their breeding and nesting season, with patrols focused on preventing illegal trawling in offshore congregation areas where turtles gather before arribada.

Turtle Excluder Devices in Fisheries: To reduce accidental turtle deaths in fishing operations, the Odisha government has mandated the use of Turtle Excluder Devices in trawl nets, which are specially designed escape openings that allow trapped turtles to swim out safely while retaining the commercial fish catch.

Tagging and Scientific Research initiatives: Conservation agencies and researchers use non-corrosive metal tags to mark Olive Ridley turtles, enabling long-term monitoring of migration routes, habitat use, and nesting patterns, which supports evidence-based conservation planning and international cooperation in sea turtle protection.

Strategic measures for the conservation of Olive Ridley turtles during mass nesting:

• Legally secure and enforce No-Go Nesting Zones: Critical arribada beaches such as Gahirmatha Beach and Rushikulya river mouth should function as strictly protected seasonal exclusion zones, especially between December and April when the Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting peaks; these sites already witness some of the world’s largest mass nesting events, sometimes exceeding 6–7 lakh turtles in a single season, making disturbance-free conditions essential.
• Strengthen marine law enforcement during breeding season: India already enforces seasonal fishing bans under the Wildlife Protection framework and state marine fisheries laws, but better implementation is needed through functional patrol boats, GPS monitoring of trawlers, and night surveillance, since accidental capture in fishing nets remains one of the biggest causes of turtle mortality along the east coast.
• Expand satellite tagging and scientific monitoring: Satellite telemetry studies by Indian marine research institutions have shown that Olive Ridleys migrate thousands of kilometres across the Bay of Bengal, linking Indian nesting beaches with international waters, which highlights the need for data-driven policy and regional cooperation rather than tourism-focused infrastructure near nesting habitats.
• Develop off-site turtle interpretation centres: Instead of creating access on nesting beaches, awareness can be enhanced through coastal interpretation centres, digital exhibits, and live nesting feeds located in nearby towns, allowing education and eco-tourism revenue without ecological disturbance.
• Implement dark-sky coastal regulations: Scientific studies confirm that hatchlings orient toward the brightest horizon, which naturally is the sea, so coastal districts should adopt turtle-friendly lighting codes using low-wavelength amber lights, shielding, and seasonal switch-offs during peak hatching periods.

Conclusion:

“Turtle trails” can contribute to conservation only if they are guided by strong ecological safeguards, science-based planning, and strict regulation, so that awareness generation and livelihood opportunities do not come at the cost of disturbing fragile coastal ecosystems and the critical nesting habitats that endangered sea turtles rely on for their long-term survival.

Source: The Hindu