Long Term Solutions Highlighted At The High Level Meeting To Mitigate Turtle Mortality In Tamil Nadu

The state of Tamil Nadu, with an extensive coastline of 1,076 km—mostly east-facing, except for a small 80 km stretch on the west—has historically been a breeding ground for sea turtles. Every year, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department initiates preparations for the sea turtle nesting season by undertaking preparatory work, setting up temporary hatcheries, organizing orientation programs for staff, and conducting inter-departmental coordination meetings starting in December. To strengthen conservation efforts, the Government of Tamil Nadu has announced the establishment of Sea Turtle Conservation Centers in Chennai and Nagapattinam, further boosting protection measures for these species.

During this year’s turtle nesting season, the department set up 52 hatcheries across eight divisions in 14 coastal districts. To enhance inter-departmental cooperation, an awareness workshop was held on January 7, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Forests and Khadi, with participation from multiple stakeholders, including researchers, NGOs, and representatives from the Forest, Fisheries, and Coastal Security Group of the Tamil Nadu Police, along with the Indian Coast Guard.

As of February 10, 2025, a total of 904 nests have been collected, containing 100,582 eggs, which have been carefully translocated to departmental hatcheries. Monitoring is conducted round the clock from translocation to the release of every hatchling. A total of 129 turtle guardians have been deployed for this purpose, and nests are monitored using the TN Turtle Guardians app. So far, 345 hatchlings have been released. Last year, 258,907 eggs were collected in forest department hatcheries, resulting in the release of 215,778 hatchlings.

This year, there has been an unusually high mortality rate among turtles, with carcasses washing ashore in large numbers. As of February 12, 2025, 1,111 carcasses have been found along the Chennai coastline, with a total of 1,382 recorded across the state’s coastline, including Chennai. Mortality was particularly high in January, but with coordinated efforts from the Forest and Fisheries Departments, the Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group, the Indian Coast Guard, and NGOs, the situation has improved significantly, and nesting activity has increased.

To scale up conservation efforts, the government has formed a task force chaired by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of Tamil Nadu. Joint patrolling by the Forest, Fisheries, and Coastal Security Group departments is ongoing, leading to the detection of over 200 violations of prohibited fishing practices. Additionally, the government has decided to link fishing subsidies to compliance with fisheries regulations.

On February 14, 2025, the Minister for Forests and Khadi, Dr. K. Ponmudy, chaired a high-level meeting at the Secretariat, attended by senior officials, members of the Tamil Nadu State Wildlife Board, representatives from the Wildlife Institute of India, Wildlife Trust of India, and NGOs such as the Tree Foundation and SSTN. The meeting emphasized the need for a long-term strategy to reduce turtle mortality. The Wildlife Institute of India will conduct an extensive telemetry study to identify key conservation areas and assess turtle migration patterns, which will help in formulating effective protection measures.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of long-term education and orientation programs for fishermen, making them key stakeholders in conservation efforts. A collaborative project was proposed to ensure the sustainable protection of sea turtles. Additionally, it was decided to strengthen surveillance mechanisms through joint efforts by the Forest, Fisheries, Coast Guard, and Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group.

To further enhance monitoring, the Forest Department will introduce specialized patrol boats operated jointly for conservation enforcement. The use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing nets, which is already mandatory, will now be strictly enforced. Local authorities, including corporations, municipalities, and rural bodies, will take necessary measures to maintain clean nesting beaches, prevent unauthorized construction, and protect nests from stray animals. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) program will be prioritized in these areas to manage stray populations.

Another critical measure to protect nesting turtles from disorientation is controlling artificial lighting on beaches. Existing government orders mandate the switching off of bright lights near nesting areas. Local bodies will be responsible for redirecting or turning off lights at night during the nesting season to prevent turtles from losing their way.

A large group of volunteers is already engaged in the turtle conservation program, and their participation will be further expanded to include community surveys and awareness initiatives.

Issued By: DIPR, Secretariat, Chennai – 9