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CONTENTS Form No. 5 Back Form No. 5 Front Form No. 4 Front JANUARY 2006 Ashoka Trust for Research in Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Ecology and the Environment www.atree.org www.atree.org IOTN ONLINE IS AVAILABLE AT http://www.seaturtle.org/iotn The Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter was initiated to provide a forum for exchange of information on sea turtle biology and conservation, management and education and awareness activities in the Indian subcontinent, Indian Ocean region, and South/Southeast Asia. The newsletter also intends to cover related aspects such as coastal zone management, fisheries and marine biology. The newsletter is distributed free of cost to a network of government and non-government organisations and individuals in the region. All articles are also freely available in PDF and HTML formats on the website. 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In the text, citations should appear as: (Vijaya, 1982), (Silas et al., 1985), (Kar & Bhaskar, 1982). References should be arranged chronologically, and multiple references may be separated by a semi colon. Please refer to IOTN issues or to the Guide to Authors on the website for formatting and style. Authors should provide complete contact information including an email address, phone and fax numbers. Reference styles in list: Vijaya, J. 1982. Turtle slaughter in India. Marine Turtle Newsletter 23: 2. Silas, E.G., M. Rajagopalan, A.B. Fernando & S. S. Dan. 1985. Marine turtle conservation & management: A survey of the situation in Orissa 1981/82 & 1982/83. Marine Fisheries Information Service Technical & Extension Service 50: 13-23. Pandav, B. 2000. Conservation & management of olive ridley sea turtles on the Orissa coast. PhD thesis. Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, India. Kar, C.S. & S. Bhaskar. 1982. The status of sea turtles in the Eastern Indian Ocean. In: The Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles (ed. K. Bjorndal), pp. 365-372. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., USA. This newsletter is produced with additional support from the Ford Foundation, New Delhi to the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment. The Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter is produced by the Coastal and Marine Programme, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore. ATREE addresses issues relating to India's rapidly diminishing biological resources and natural ecosystems by integrating rigorous science with policy, education and Ashoka Trust for Research in socially responsible conservation action. The Coastal and Marine Programme at Ecology and the Environment ATREE focuses on the development of approaches that are participatory, appropriate www.atree.org and which promote the sustainable use of marine resources. Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter No. 3 Perceptions of local stakeholders about marine turtles on the Sindhudurg coast of southern Maharashtra, India Aditya Kakodkar DD’s Cross Building, Agalli, Fatorda, Margao, Goa 403 602. India. Email: [email protected] Introduction technique of stratified random sampling was employed, where the stakeholders were divided Five sea turtles are known to occur on the coast of according to their age group and occupation. Ten Maharashtra (Giri, 2001). This project investigates fishermen interviewed at each study site, including the present status of marine turtles on the Sindhudurg young fishermen below the age of 25 years (2), a coast of Maharashtra. Nesting on the Sindhudurg middle age group of between 25-50 years (4) and coast is sporadic, but there are adverse impacts on the old age group of 50 years and above (4). The marine turtles due to killing for meat and poaching views of this last group were particularly important of eggs (Giri, 2001). as they were able to compare present and past status of the coastal environment and marine turtles. Study Area and Methods Eight local persons were interviewed at each site, The study was carried out in Sindhudurg, the southern- including teachers in local schools and colleges (2), most district of Maharashtra (15035’N to 16033’N students (2), businessmen (2), and lay persons (2) and 730 18’E to 740 13’E), with a coastline of 121 constituting people from different occupations. The km (Figure 1). The coastline is divided into three business people also included local fisherwomen in talukas namely Vengurla, Malvan and Deogad, from some places. The sample size was increased to 12 south to north. Malvan taluka is the most important at study sites with higher population; here 4 teachers fish landing area of Sindhudurg district, followed by and 4 laymen were interviewed. Different Deogad and Vengurla. This district was specially questionnaires were used for the fishermen and the chosen as it has a rich coastal environment and has local population (see Appendix). The data were an identified site for a marine park. collected through individual interviews. Thirteen sites were chosen for the execution of Results and Discussion the project. There were five sites in the Malvan taluka, and four sites each in Deogad and Vengurla Interviews with fishermen talukas. The sites are: Malvan taluka – 1) Achra, 2) Talashil, 3) Sarjekot, 4) Malvan and 5) Deobag; The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) Deogad taluka – 1) Tambeldeg, 2) Padvane, 3) is locally known as ‘Kurma’, wheras the olive ridley Vijaydurg and 4) Deogad; Vengurla taluka – 1) (Lepidochelys olivacea)is known as ‘Tupalo’, Redi, 2) Neevti, 3) Bhogve and 4) Vengurla. The The rest of the turtles are generally referred to as sites were selected according to the intensity of ‘Kasai’. The data collected through the interviews fishing activities in the region and the population of showed frequent encounters of olive ridley turtles, the villages. Malvan and Deogad talukas have a while fishing was common all through the study large number of fishermen with mixed fishing for area. Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were more different types of fishes. The fishing community in common in the Vengurla and Malvan talukas Vengurla is very small with mainly shrimp fishing. compared to Deogad. The reported encounters of green turtles decreased northwards. The The method involved direct interviews with local leatherback turtle was encountered near the stakeholders i.e. fishermen and local people. A Malvan taluka and less in the Vengurla and Deogad January, 2006 1 Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter No.3 talukas. There were no confirmed records of of Malvan. Reports suggest that if a turtle is loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and hawksbill turtles encountered at sea, it is killed and its meat is packed (Eretmochelys imbricata). Encounters with turtles in containers, and the leftovers are disposed at sea were reported mostly in the post-monsoon season to avoid detection. The leatherback turtle is mostly after September whereas some believed that there not harmed. Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) are was no particular season for nesting. The fishermen not used or known. mostly encountered marine turtles entangled in their gear in the morning or at night. The average curved Interviews with the local population carapace length (CCL) of the marine turtles encountered by the fishermen ranged from 45 - Most members of the local population (73% of 65cm. The weight was reported to be from 15 - teachers, 96% of students, 91% of laymen and about 100 kg. Almost all of the interviewees reported less 83% of businessmen) knew that the turtles nest on than five encounters with marine turtles per day. the Sindhudurg coast. Fifty two percent of teachers, All fishermen reported turtle nesting on the beaches 75% of teachers, 88% of students, 79% of laymen, near their villages. and 91% of businessmen say that local fishermen and local people are involved in the illegal trade. There are not many reports of the sighting of marine Fifty five percent of the interviewed teachers, 33% turtles on the coast of Sindhudurg in recent years. of students, 41% of laymen and 65% of The sightings reported in the study area were of a businessmen consume turtle products. All the four leatherback turtle at Chiwla beach in Malvan and groups reported that turtle eggs are sold for Rs 5- of an olive ridley turtle at Deobag; in both cases 10 per egg, while teachers and businessmen the turtles were caught in dragnets. Two young reported that turtle meat is sold at up to Rs 30 per green turtles (CCL - 25cm and 45cm) were found kg. Most of the people who consumed turtle eggs in two separate wells near the shore at Neevti did so for the taste of the eggs. Almost all of the where they had been kept for consumption at a interviewed groups felt the need for the later time. These were also caught in a dragnet. conservation of marine turtles. Fifty eight percent One dead turtle each was encountered at Vengurla of teachers, 46% of students, 62% of laymen, and and Malvan, the former a green turtle (CCL - about 57% of businessmen knew that marine turtles are 90cm), and the latter an olive ridley turtle (CCL - legally protected.