Talk by Dr.C.S.Kar, the Wildlife Research Officer, Government of Orissa

In a particular period of the year, the turtle comes to the shore and lays eggs on its sands. Again we see the hatchlings emerging from the egg pit and moving into the sea. Our knowledge of the biology of sea turtles is limited to this brief observation for roughly one and half hours, when it is found on the land. The rest of the life cycle of the sea turtle is referred to as lost years, about which no scientist knows anything authentically.

About 2 years back, I had the opportunity of surveying the entire coast of Orissa in a ship named Sagar Purvi of National Institute of Ocean Technology under the Department of Ocean Development, Government of India for a period of 15 days. What I saw was beyond my imagination. I found that there were a large number of shoals of turtles, and their mating pairs occurring in the near shore waters of 5 km off the coastline between Suvarna Rekha and Budha Balanga river mouth areas. I don't say that there were no turtles beyond 5 km off the coastline. But we found the mass of turtles concentrated within the 5 km off the coastline. However, we have no evidence of turtle nesting in these areas so far. We don't know whether the turtles are nesting in these areas. Even the nesting takes place there; we are not able to reach the exact place in time to document the event.

As you know, mass nesting of turtles at Gairmatha was locally known, though we the scientists came to know of it only in 1974-75. The mass nesting at Devi mouth was known to the scientists only in 1980-81. More peculiarly enough, Rushikulya mouth, which is so close to the National Highway had the mass nesting phenomenon much earlier, but could be known to the scientific world only in 1994. All this speaks how much we are concerned about over own coast and coastal resources. In my view, there may be some more places in Orissa coast, where mass nesting may be taking place, but we are not able to know and document it.

The next question that has come up for discussion is why the sea turtles do visit Orissa coast. As you might know, in case of all migrating species, whether birds or animals it is the temperature which triggers the mechanism of migration. The Television daily shows the comparative figures of temperature of different metros of the country. You would notice that Madras is invariably warmer than Calcutta. It means there is temperature gradient flooring from Madras to Calcutta; so far ambience of air temperature is concerned. It is accordingly reflected in the water temperature.

In addition to the temperature, the other factor which pushes forward the turtles to migrate is the suitable nesting beach, which means the nesting beach with its appropriate sand grain size. If the sand grain is coarser, then they won't be able to dig the pit. If it is too fine, then the oxygen requirement for the eggs won't be fulfilled. In view of these factors, some river mouth areas of our coast provide the ideal combination for their breeding. The food is another important component of the suitable environmental conditions for turtle breeding, which is available in the river mouth areas of Orissa coast.

As regards the turtle enumeration, may be, we are wrong. Instead of the projected figure of 10 lakhs, the actual number may be 5 lakhs. But it is a fact that lakhs of turtles do nest in our beaches. The turtles coming to shore are females only. The males don't come. Though there is no scientific study on the male-female ratio of the turtles present in a specific coast, let us assume that the ratio is 1:1. Thus a similar number of males would be in sea as that of the females. A huge number of turtles are coming to Orissa coast every year in October and staying on for a period of six months. If a single female lays 100 eggs, we are having crores of hatchlings. It means the food resource available in our coastal waters is immense. The source of these food resources are mangroves and coral reefs. Till date no body knew that Orissa coast had coral reefs. But we do have them, the only difference being that in Andamans the Coral reefs exist in near-shore waters, while in Orissa coast they are at 30 meter depth. The mangroves and coral reefs provide the necessary food chain for the turtles. There may be so many other factors, which we don't know.

We know that there are 7 to 8 species of sea turtle in the whole world, out of which 5 species visit Indian coasts and out of them 4 species come to Orissa coast. Out of these 4 species, only 1 species, that is the Olive ridleys are mass-nesting in Orissa's beaches. The counterpart of Olive ridley is Kemp's ridley sea turtle, which nests in only one place of the world, i.e. Mexican coast. Around 1940, the population of Kemp's ridleys was 40 to 50 thousand. But due to human interferences, the population sharply declined to only 500. During the last 10 to 15 years, millions of US dollars have been spent to recover the population. But the population size remains 500 to 600 and does not increase.

Sea turtles are found in all oceans and all seas. The Olive ridley was earlier known as Pacific Olive ridley, since its distribution was not known beyond the Pacific. Though there was local knowledge, still the scientific world didn't know other places where they might be nesting. Now it is established that the largest population of Olive ridleys is available in Bay of Bengal and that too in Orissa coast. There are 3 nesting places of Olive ridleys i.e. Pacific coast of Mexico, Costa Rica and Orissa. The Orissa's Olive ridleys constitute about 50% of its global population and more than 80% of Indian population. If something happens to this population, there is a concern worldwide. That is why, there are several measures being taken for their conservation.

Talk by Dr.Bivas Pandav, Scientist, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun

I am Bibhas Pandav and work in Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. For some months now, I have been staying at Paradip in connection with my turtle research. I do believe that there is a decline in Olive ridley turtle population in Orissa coast. During last 5 to 6 years, we had tagged 35,000 to 36,000 of turtles. Almost 25% of the turtles have been killed as we found the tagged turtles dead and washed ashore. It is an estimate based upon the count of dead turtles washed ashore.

We should have an estimated size of sustainable population of Olive ridleys in Orissa Coast, so that we get alarmed, or we don't get alarmed following a change in that size.

As it was told, apart from Orissa coast, Mexico and some other places are having Olive ridley population. It is said that because of human intervention, most of these turtle populations have disappeared there.

But I want to add to what Kameswar Praharaj said sometime back. Countries like Malaysia and Thailand have already pleaded in the WTO forum that the developed countries like USA who destroyed their rain forests are now asking the developing countries to preserve their forests, Olive ridleys and so on. The Chief Wildlife Warden who is here should understand that a proper survey for determining a sustainable population size of Olive ridleys be done, following which we might get alarmed or not.

A suggestion was put forward by Dr. Priyambada Mohanty-Hejmadi, in a meeting a few days back i.e. why do you not go for re-nesting? In the places where there is no exploitation of marine fishery resources, i.e. isolated places, the eggs can be incubated for production of hatchlings. She gave the idea, I think, Dr. Kar was there too. Kameswar Babu wanted the same thing also.

Now this forum has of course a limited objective, i.e. the demonstration of TED. I would request the trawl owner friends to participate fully in the demonstration.

Now I would request Dr. Pandav to speak the gist of his broad conclusions of the survey that he has so far made on TED.

In order to know the definite trend that the Olive ridley population is on the decline we need to discuss the methods of wildlife census and how the trend of decline or growth is determined. Now Dr. Pandav might deal with these questions too.

My interaction with the trawl owners started from 27 the January 2002. Sri Kishore Rath, Seretary OMFPA was along with me and others in the boat on that day when we had gone for experimental fishing with TED. I had interacted with Sri Rath and others. The weather turned bad on 28,29,30 and 31 January and we could not go for fishing. Then I moved to Astarang to do the sampling. There the trawl owners of Astarang were participating in the sampling exercises. Sri Dibakar Shukla, a representative of trawlers association was all along with me.

We have so far carried out 30 hauls by using TED. In 16 hauls, we got turtles in the net. Regarding the percentage of loss of fish, we had excluded jelly fish from both main cod end and 2nd cod end.

All the turtles were alive. And we also didn't haul for more than an hour, with a view to prevent turtle mortality. Catch loss varied from 0 to 8%. The 8% catch loss, which is the maximum, we got in the presence of the Director of Fisheries and Sri Kishjore Rath, Secretary OMFPA on 27th Jan. last. Otherwise, 0 to 3, 4, 4.5 and 5%, 6% was the usual percentage. The average was 3.6 to 4.5.

Mr. Shekhar Dutta, who is now documenting, was also present with me. We conducted one haul at Devi Muhan for 90 minutes. Two turtles were caught. One was alive, and the other in a state of comatose. We kept the troubled one for about half an hour on the deck and poured water on it. Then it recovered. If we would have extended our haul from 90 minutes to 2 hours, that turtle must have died. It is a fact that the turtles are dying due to longer duration of hauls.

The catch loss, I repeat, is 0 to 4.5 only, but I want to use a word of caution. What I have got is not a final conclusion. The catch loss may increase. I have not surveyed in fisheries-rich area. We plan to do at least 150 hauls by end of April. So far we have not got any big fish in our net. I do not want to conclude at his stage. The percentage loss may be 20% or less than 8%. I am in contact with Sri Kishore Rath, Secretary OMFPA. He has promised to send observers with me in trial trawling. Any trawl owner is most welcome to accompany us in our trial trawling.

My next point concerns the apprehension of some people that the turtle might be killed by the blow of propeller of the trawlers, which is utterly wrong and confusing. May be, incidentally a turtle might have dashed against the propeller, but it won't die. It is a very intelligent animal. But it is a fact that the turtle is entrapped by both trawl net and gill net. The biological difference between the turtle and fish is that unlike fish, the turtle can't inhale oxygen from water. It has not gills but lungs like humans. It has a respiratory system. It comes to surface of the sea to breathe oxygen and then dives down. If the turtle is put under stress during this period, it can survive for one hour at a maximum. But without stress, the turtle can stay for more than about 4 to 5 years under water in normal conditions. At an interval of about 20 to 25 minutes, the turtle generally comes up to the surface for breathing.

As regrades the surface swimming of the turtle, they do swim in the surface during migration. Migration is over within 15 to 20 days. I had tagged a turtle on 13 March 1997 at Gahirmatha, which was found at Sri Lanka on 27 April 1997, all within 44 days. Every day a turtle swims for more than 50 km. So when it migrates, it swims in surface. But one they come here to Gahirmatha, they go to sea bottom. If you have noticed a turtle, it often carries some mud on its body. Where is the mud in the mid water? The turtle moves in surface but is not a surface feeder. They eat jelly fish, crab, mollusk, snail etc. with the help of their strong jaws. They don't get these feeds from the surface. While we fish with low opening net for shrimp or tiger prawn, i.e. when we do bottom trawling, the turtles get entrapped. Relatively less turtles enter high opening nets than in low opening nets. This is borne out by my experience in last two months. The turtles feed on the bottom and live on the floor of the sea.

We don't get mortality during migration, since they are in the surface.

The mating takes place in the bottom of the sea. The male catches hold of the female in the floor of the sea at 10 to 20 fathom. During the breeding season, maximum turtles are found within 5 km of coastline. You shall find a few turtles beyond 5 km. To be very precise, the turtles are concentrated in large numbers within 2 to 3 km of the shoreline. You are trawling at 10 to 12 fathom. I have also conducted hauls at less depth but found that a fewer turtles are caught.

We want interaction on the points raised by Dr. Pandav.

Let me just ask Dr. Pandav the very questions which have been raised by the trawl owners. Dr.Pandav says that turtle mating is concentrated in Gahirmatha, Devi and Rushikulya mouth areas, while other areas of Orissa coast may be used by the turtles as their migration path. Except the areas where the mating of turtles takes place in large numbers, what would be the harm if we allow trawling? Moreover, if the migration takes place in the surface of the sea, there is therefore little chance for the turtles to get killed by the bottom trawling.

There is no problem in allowing trawling as such in the migration path of the turtles, such as in Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. But in Orissa, as a matter of fact, the turtles don't migrate. As a matter of fact, after reaching Orissa, they are staying here in costal waters for 6 months at a stretch. And they congregate in large numbers in near-shore waters. If you see the distribution pattern of dead turtles, the massy patches are found in Gahirmatha, Devi mouth and Paradip areas, which are also the areas of thick congregation of living turtles.

How long the mating goes on?

Mating starts roughly from 15th November and is still now going on (9th February) in the sea.

What is the peak period of mating?

Peak period is 30th November to 15 or 20th January.

How many days after the mating, they lay eggs?

After 30 to 45 days of mating, they lay eggs.

Do they start mating only after reaching Orissa coast?

Yes.

Do they go to the bottom then? I want to know precisely in which areas of Orissa coast the turtle are found in bottom layer in large numbers.

Let me just explain how the mating takes place. The male turtle chases and catches hold of the female in the bottom. Then both come up to surface. The mating is a very laborious process. They spend a lot of energy while mating, a fact which is also true for any animal including human beings.

During copulation they float on the waters. But to start with, the male chases the female under waters.

Are the sea turtles found en masse all along Orissa coast?

Major distribution points of Orissa coast for Olive ridley turtles are Gahirmatha, Devi and Rushikulya mouth areas. Besides there are also turtles found in other places of Orissa coast. But 90% of the turtles are concentrated in these three areas.

As per the survey of Dr. Pandav, large concentrations of turtles are found in Gahirmatha, Rushikulya and Devi mouth areas. But there are no large number of turtles in divided Balasore coast. In other districts there are a few patches, say Gahirmatha in Bhadrak. So why should we recommend TED or any other fishing restriction in those areas where turtle concentration is not there? (Clapping by trawl owners)

I do recommend the use of TED in the areas of Orissa coast wherever the trawling operation is presently going on. The reason is that the trawlers start off from a particular place, say Paradip and go on a voyage to far-ff places, such as north of Gahirmatha or Dhamra mouth. Is it not impractical to make a rule that a particular trawler would use TED here, but not there? (Some noise by the trawl owners)

Taking the cue from some important points raised by the trawl owners, I want to ask Dr. Kar in the presence of the Chief Wildlife Warden, 'What is the effect of pollution by industries on the turtles?' It was mentioned that the untreated toxic effluents of Oswal Fertilizers get into the sea waters. What is the effect of that? Secondly, what is the effect of illumination, sound etc. caused by the Defense Establishment (DRDO at Wheelers Island) on the turtles?

We tend to concentrate on a soft target such as trawl owners or fishermen. But we usually don't take to task the Defense Establishment or big industries. Do we say to such people to stop this or that in the interest of turtles? Has any study been made from a scientific standpoint as to what is the effect of industrial pollution, or light and noise pollution caused by the Defense in regard to turtle mortality?

Also please tell us, what are the different reasons of turtle mortality? Do they die because of propeller, trawl net, erosion, or animals (dogs, cattle jackal, birds etc) ? Again what is the damage caused by these factors at different stages of the turtle, say at egg, hatchling, or mating stage?

A lot of scientific studies has already been done on these topics. Under the aegis of the Dept. of Ocean Development, Government of India an exclusive unit has been established recently at Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar recently. They are monitoring every river mouth area of Orissa coast at regular interval. All the relevant informations are available with them.

(Shouts by Trawl owners, what do you mean by regular interval? Does it mean once a year?)

I think, at a quarterly interval they are monitoring. They have detailed reports on all river mouth areas of Orissa. These reports are available.

Has any body studied the impact of Oswal Fertilizers or Defence installations vis--vis turtle mortality?

About Oswal Fertilizers, I would say that due to its pollution, there are no fishes available in a particular patch of Mahanadi river mouth. So such pollution has a definite impact on the turtles. Moreover, you the trawl owners are more aware and conversant with this problem, since you are experiencing it every day. Are you getting fishes from these areas? If so, how much? As the fact goes, you are getting either no fish or very little fish in the areas affected by pollution, precisely for which you are moving away to Gahirmatha area.

Let me tell you that the very step of declaring a 'no fishing zone' is not against the interest of trawl owners or fishermen community. Because the concerned protected area is a breeding ground of fishes, prawns and crabs. By protecting a particular area, we don't prevent the fishes from moving into other areas. The fishes do not fly up to heaven, sink down to the hell below or come up to the land. They would be moving from one area to the other area in the sea. In the long-term interest of fisheries it self, some areas are therefore being protected to allow undisturbed breeding and spawning of fishes.

Coming to the question of the impact of light, it harms the turtle irrespective of its source. So far we have talked of water and air pollution. Of late we are talking of noise pollution. But we have not till date tackled light as a possible source of pollution. But in foreign countries, as you know, they have got definite legislations for prevention and control of illumination in coastal zones. In last 5 years we have been talking of such a legislation to be made in India, especially in Orissa. As you know, every animal has some sensitivity to light during breeding, disturbance of which leads to several adverse consequences, including disorientation, as in case of turtles. So the light has definite impact on the turtles. A few years back, there was a high level meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister of Orissa himself, where this matter was discussed. As per the decision of the said meeting, instructions were issued to all concerned for controlling the illumination affecting the turtle nesting beaches in coastal Orissa.

In the presence of the Chief Wildlife Warden, Orissa I want to say that there should not be any misgiving among the trawl owners, or even amongst us that only one party is to be blamed for killing of the turtles. The blame for turtle killing should be shared by different agencies by the rate at which they are responsible for the turtle death. Now I would request Dr. Pandav to speak out of his experience of 30 hauls he made, whether any catch loss is caused due to the jelly fish and ray fish getting stuck up against the TED and covering its surface.

When Dr.Pandav started to speak, Sri Dillip Kumar Sahu, a trawl owner stood up and insisted on getting an answer from Dr.Pandav to his question before proceeding further.

My question is what are the favourable factors that attract the sea turtles to come to Orissa coast for egg laying and what are the unfavourable factors that hinder their smooth breeding activities? If Dr.Pandav can't answer, I may be allowed two minutes only for answering this question.

I shall answer your question, only after I complete my discussion on TED.

Shout- No.No.

This is a Workshop, where the trawl owners were requested to come and attend. We know, they have sacrificed their valuable business hours to come over here. We should be sensitive to their demands. If somebody harbours any reasonable doubt, even if we force him to use TED, he won't do it at all. So you as a scientist should clarify to them whatever doubts they have. Then only can we hope to start from a clean slate.

Let me now speak on the Favorable and Unfavorable Factors for turtle breeding in Orissa coast. As regards the favourable factors, firstly, an open beach having not much vegetation, and having no plantation, but low lying sand dunes is an ideal site for turtle nesting. Secondly, the turtles prefer a particular size of sand grain, which is not very fine, or not very coarse. Thirdly, sufficient food. Lakhs & lakhs of turtles both male and female come and stay here for 6 mouths in Orissa's coastal waters. There should be sufficient food to sustain them. Fourthly, least disturbance. We have noticed disturbance only in recent years. But earlier over the years, Gahirmatha was largely a peaceful area. A remotely located island free from human interferences is an ideal site for turtle nesting.

As regards the unfavourable factors, a low-lying beach, which gets inundated by the tidal waters, a beach with casuarinas plantation, a beach subject to illuminations, and a beach not having adequate space for the turtles en masse to move forth and back on the sands are considered unfavourable sites for turtle nesting.

shouts.

The defense installations at Wheelers Island near Gahirmatha have powerful lights which illuminate the nesting beach. Are the turtles not harmed by such illumination? Why should we not tell the Defense people to stop such illumination?

It is true, small hatchlings are killed by such illumination, but not adult turtles. You're your information; there has been a continuous correspondence with the Defense officials for checking such illumination. You should not think that we are only telling the trawl owners to stop killing the turtles. You can ascertain in your own way that there is a file being maintained in Defense office on this issue, which has grown thicker over time.

Has there been any media publicity on the issue of Defense lights affecting the sea turtles? Whereas negative publicity against the trawlers is being made daily in the news papers. (clapping by the trawl owners). Why?

Yes. There has been continuous publicity in the news papers on the issue of Defense lights disorienting the turtles.

Let me ask Dr. Pandav, at what depth he did his sampling with TED?

I have done sampling at depths ranging from 6-8 fathoms to 18-20 fathoms.

What is the maximum depth you have so far covered?

18-20 fathoms.

As I was told by a friend, on the day when the Director of Fisheries was there, you had conducted fishing at 5 fathom only.

No. That day we did at 8 fathoms.

The area where you did the sampling was within 5 km off the coastline. Is it not? Whether that area came under the prohibited zone or not? Please answer me to the point.

On the day the Director of Fisheries was present, we had done the fishing after one and half hours of steaming, beyond 5 km off the coastline.

Well, whether 5 km or 25 km, the area fell under the prohibited zone. Is it not so? And you got a turtle. I want to ask you, what was the true intention behind your sampling? You placed an extra cod end at the opening of the TED, through which the turtle usually escapes. The extra cod end was meant to show how the turtle gets entrapped and then finds its way out through the TED hole. What I have learnt from the implicit message of your demonstration is that one might fish in the sanctuary areas, provided he uses a Turtle Excluder Device. Tell me, what is your true intention?

As a matter of fact, we didn't do the fishing on that day within the sanctuary area, but outside it and again outside the 5 km off the coastline. Even when I am fishing in a prohibited area, I have got a permit from the Chief Wildlife Warden to do a scientific study, which is meant to benefit every body, not me personally.

From the answer given by Dr. Pandav on the favourable and unfavourable conditions of turtle nesting, I am convinced that he told all his out of his bookish knowledge. Can he give us a true picture of the existing natural conditions of Gahirmatha beach? Can he say, why the turtles are returning away from Gahirmatha without being able to lay eggs?

Now let me tell you the real truth. About 10 years ago, the 2 km long sandy beach of Gahirmatha was sloppy in the inter-tidal zone. As you know, the turtles come riding on the crest of the tidal waves and slowly climb the sloppy inter-tidal areas to reach to the nesting beach. They return bank to the sea in the similar fashion after nesting is over. Some years ago there was no obstacle to their coming and going in connection with nesting. Now the situation is totally different. The water current dashing against the Wheelers Island, located on the opposite of the nesting beach flows back to Gahirmatha and erodes its sloppy contours. As a result, the sandy inter-tidal sloppy zone has been deformed into steps. The turtles are no longer able to climb the steps. Only the stronger ones among them can reach the nesting beach with lot of effort, while the weaker ones are returning back to the sea without egg-laying. With eggs in the womb, the pregnant turtles suffer incredible pain due to failure to lay the eggs and in consequence are dying in large numbers. A journalist of Kendrapara named Sri Guru Charan Patnaik had made a survey of changing scenario of Gahirmatha beach and submitted his report to DFO Rajnager, which however didn't see the light of the day. Sri Nalini Mohanty was then a Minister, whom we informed about this Report. An ex-Director of Fisheries,Orissa Sri Srimant Sengupta had published in 1997-98 an article under the caption 'Turtle Tears' in Oriya newspapers based upon the theme of this Report.

Secondly, the natural conditions of beach also deteriorated in another respect. On the beach, there was a natural forest, in which a grass called Nalia used to grow. Nalia helps conservation of soil. When the natural forest was destroyed with Nalia cut away by the people, there is no reserved forest any longer. The people have started building their habitation in those places.

It is a fact that the turtles nest only in places, which are conducive enough for the purpose. But now you find widespread illumination, as if of a township, caused by the Defense establishment. So the turtles feel inhibited to go to Gahirmatha for nesting. The pregnant turtles unable to bear the mortal pain on account of their failure to lay eggs are dying as a result.

We trawl owners are always being blamed for the death of the turtles as caused by their drowning in our nets. Right to life, as you know, is a human right. On the plea of turtle killing, our right to life is being encroached upon every now and then. Nobody gives a serious mind as to various reasons for which turtles are dying and in stead we the trawl owners only are being blamed. No authentic report comes out in media too. As the members of our Association know, I conducted a survey myself on the turtle death in Gahirmatha areas, at my own expense a few years back. On several occasions I had been to those areas. Once my boat had got stranded on Barunei Muhan. During that time I with the help of small Dangi and Bhutbhuti had surveyed the whole area. However I did't get any opportunity of speaking about this survey comprehensively. Earlier once or twice on the occasion of some seminars on the subject, I had informed about this survey, but to-day only I have got the full scope to ventilate my findings

Sea turtle is an innocent animal, who has many enemies. There are enemies of its egg, and hatchling as well as of adult species. Never has it been told by the scientists that the trawlers destroyed the eggs or hatchlings. Rather it was told umpteen times that light had an adverse impact on turtle breeding. The depletion of mangroves leading to the disturbance in the food chain of sea turtles has also been highlighted quite often.

shouts

I request all of you (trawl owners) to kindly listen to somebody when he is speaking. If you have any different opinions to express, you can do so one after another his speech is finished.

Now we should go for lunch break. At 4pm we should get together again for the 2nd Technical Session in which whatever questions and doubts remain unanswered, could be raised, discussed and clarified.