Fishermen's Workshops
Awareness programs are conducted regularly for fishermen for identification of sea turtles, handling turtles in offshore areas, safe release and data collection on by-catch for conservation purposes. Open discussions and documentary screenings are used as the main tools for this training program.
For the first time in the country’s history, TREE Foundation brought together the trawl boat owners and workers welfare association, the department of Forest and Fisheries and the Indian Coast Guard for ‘Sea Turtle Safe Release’ sticker program, organized at Kasimedu fishing harbor in Chennai where information stickers were distributed and pasted on nearly 2800 trawl boats and 600 artisanal fising boats. As an additional support to the program TREE Foundation has submitted a proposal to the Forest Department for compensating the fishermen for net loss and interrupted fishing effort during the turtle release.
The outcomes of the one day workshop ‘Mission Sea Turtle – To propose viable solutions and strengthen network to mitigate sea turtle mortality and protect associated ecosystems’, are:
- Indian Coast Guard intensified and made mandatory their helicopter patrols to deter violating trawl boats
- All artisanal fishers given Coast Guard contact numbers to inform of trawlers violating the MFRA. The Coast Guard speedboats are permanently on call and have warned trawl fishers regarding breaches in a number of incidents last season
- Fisheries Department erected turtle awareness boards in all fishing villages and fishing harbors along the Tamil Nadu coast. Directly and through the engagement of all stakeholders, TREE Foundation has been responsible for policy changes and the Fisheries Department have issued a ban on the use of nets set for Ray fish during the sea turtle breeding and nesting season. This ban commenced first in November 2016 and the ban has been submitted as an amendment to the Marine Fisheries Regulation Act.
This has seen the at-sea mortality reduced by 15% so far based on strandings noted and observations from fishers. Additionally Coastal Security Group guards are also coordinating with STPF for patrol in a number of the villages this season to increase awareness and assist the STPF in their work.
Though protected by law under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 in India, often turtles are not effectively protected due to lack of enforcement and community involvement. By engaging all stakeholders, TREE Foundation is in a position to encourage better involvement in conservation activities among coastal communities and insist upon increased enforcement action against violators of the Act.
