Authorities to strengthen enforcement of fisheries regulations to address Olive Ridley turtle deaths in Chennai

A dead sea Olive Ridley turtle washed ashore on the Pulicat beach on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: Jothi Ramalingam B

The task force constituted to review the Olive Ridley sea turtle deaths has called for stricter enforcement of fisheries regulations to address the high mortality rate of the species.

Led by the Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, the task force met on Monday (January 27, 2025) for the first time to review the deaths of sea turtles along the Chennai coast. It includes officials from departments such as Environment and Climate Change, Fisheries, the Coast Guard, and the Coastal Protection Committee. 

Mr. Dogra said the task force was created to take a collective approach and bring together the expertise of different departments to address this issue. Three key measures need to be enforced — a ban on trawl fishing, the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), and restrictions on prohibitory horsepower of boat engines. So far, 24 trawlers have been fined, and no subsidies will be provided to those who violate these regulations, he said.

During the meeting on Monday, it was decided to strengthen enforcement against trawl fishing close to shore. The Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983, bans mechanised fishing vessels within five nautical miles of certain nesting and breeding areas during the nesting season. Authorities were also asked to strictly enforce the use of TEDs in fishing nets. TEDs are metal grids that allow turtles to escape from trawl nets, but fishermen have raised concerns that these reduce their catch and affect their livelihoods.

The Forest Department has intensified the post-mortem examinations of turtles that have washed ashore, aiming for at least a 50% increase, to quickly determine the cause of death.

An official release said fishing boats are turning off GPS transponders while at sea. The Fisheries Department has advised against this practice, warning that boats not following proper procedures will be ineligible for diesel subsidies and other government benefits.

Exact cause of death unclear

Conservationists report that more than 1,000 turtle carcasses have been found along the Chennai and Chengalpattu coasts since the second week of January, though the Forest Department has said the figure is 706. While the exact cause of the high mortality is unclear, authorities say that trawling is the main reason. 

Some fishermen believe that rough weather and strong currents may be carrying the carcasses from Andhra Pradesh to the Chennai and Chengalpattu areas. However, Mr. Dogra said that the number of nests has also been lower, suggesting that the turtles coming here to nest have been impacted.

Further, research institutions like AIWC and TANUVAS have been tasked with ongoing research on turtle mortality. They have been also advised to conduct long-term studies on turtle movements in Tamil Nadu’s coastal areas to gather scientific data on their migration.