CMFRI SPECIAL PUBLICATION Number 18 v*3a*tf' PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON SEA TyRTLI CONSERVATION CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE Indian Council of Agricultural Retjearch Post Box No. I9f2, Cochin 682 018, iNDlA CMFRI SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS *1. Pearl culture training: Long-term and short-term courses 1977, pp. 39. *2. Mariculture research and developmental activites. 1978, pp. 48. *3. Summer Institute in breeding and rearing of marine prawns. 1978, pp. 128. *4. Economics of the indigenous fishing units at Cochin : A case study. 1978, pp. 24. 5. Seminar on the role of small-scale fisheries and coastal aquaculture in integrated rural development. 197 8, pp. 44. *6. Coastal Aquaculture: Proceedings of the first Workshop on Technology Transfer. 1979, pp. 96. 7. Manual of Research Methods for Crustacean Biochemistry and Physiology. 1981, pp. 172. *8. Manual of Research Methods for Fish and Shellfish Nutrition. 1982, pp. 125. 9. Manual of Research Methods for Marine Invertebrate Reproduction. 1982, pp. 214. 10. Analysis of marine fish landings in India : A new approach. 1982, pp. 42. (Continued on back inside) Cover : Olive ridley hatchlings at CMFRI Farm. PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKSHOP ON SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION 27-29, February, 1984, Madras Organised by THE CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE, COCHIN in cooperation with THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT (GOVERNMENT OF INDIA) THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDIA and THE MADRAS CROCODILE BANK # \ CMFRI SPECIAL PUBLICATION Number 18 CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Post Box No. 1912, Cochin-682018, India Limited Distribution Edited and Published by : E. G. SILAS, Director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin-682 018. PRINTED IN INDIA AT THE DIOCESAN PRESS, MADRAS-7—1984. C551S ' v. ' . »* i • * L' If* >:™ «1 • "v • * - .,\.'""VJ' ;'•. • Olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea—oviposition PREFACE Sea turtles bave attracted considerable attention in recent years on account of their vulnerability despite the feet that all the five species occurring in our seas are protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The mass nesting of the olive ridley Lepidochelys olivacea along parts of the Orissa Coast and the illegal capture and sale of this species in the Calcutta markets as well as the heavy accidental catch in fishing operations and conse­ quent mortality and strandings have focussed greater attention on the need for developing proper conservation and management measures for this and other species. Turtle egg predation by man and animals has been rampant in some of the nesting grounds and an effective control is a major unfulfilled task. In addition, there is considerable biodegradation of some of the nesting beaches due to human interference resulting in recent years in the total absence of nesting on such beaches. Very extensive man-made engineering works such as the sea walls along Kerala Coast or protective embankments near Harbours have gone a long way in completely obliterating some of the nesting beaches. To some extent, activities such as beaching of boats, seasonal migrant settlement of fisherfolk on nesting beaches and development of beach resorts have also been significant perturbations. The Sea turtles are vulnerable to predation at all stages of their life cycle whether it be the eggs, hatchlings, sub-adults or adults. Our knowledge of the biology of the sea turtles is very meagre and we have no precise ideas about their life habits, behaviour and their routes of migration to feeding and breeding grounds. While nesting beach surveys and beach walking are of utmost importance in identifying and demarcating nesting beaches, more observations in space and time are needed to give us precise ideas about core areas which need urgent protection by declaring them as sea shore reserves or part of marine parks or sanctuaries. Realising the importance of sea turtles as a resource which needs urgent protec­ tion and management, the Department of Environment, Govern­ ment of India has recently constituted a Sea Turtle Specialist iv Group to consider the steps to be taken for the conservation of sea turtles. In the light of major lacunae in our knowledge, it was felt that the time was appropriate to discuss some of these problems, in depth, at a common forum so that guidelines could be evolved for an action plan with priority areas identified for immediate atten­ tion. With this in view, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) organised this Workshop on ' Sea Turtle Conservation' at Madras from 27 to 29 February, 1984 with the cooperation of the Department of Environment, Government of India, the Marine Biological Asso­ ciation of India and the Madras Crocodile Bank. The three-day Workshop which was inaugurated by Shri S. A. Subramani, Secre­ tary, Forest and Fisheries Department, Government of Tamil Nadu was attended by 42 participants from the Forest and Wildlife Departments, the Fisheries Departments, Central Government Organisations, Universities and other interested agencies. The programme was discussed under eight Technical Sessions with lead papers on the following themes : Session I PROBLEMS OF SBA TURTLE CONSERVATION IN INDIA Session II KINDS OF SEA TURTLES IN INDIA, THEIR STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION MASS NESTING BEACHES OF ORISSA Session III VALUE OF SEA TURTLES TO INDIA (FOOD, SUBSIS­ TENCE, CULTURAL, AESTHETIC AND ECOLOGICAL) Session IV THE THREATS TO SEA TURTLES IN INDIA Session V RECOVER* AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES FOR SEA TURTLES IN INDIA : THEIR VALUE, LOGIS­ TICS AND PROBLEMS Session VI CONTEMPORARY PROBLEMS IN SEA TURTLE BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION—THE URGENT NEED FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION Session VII STATE STATUS REPORTS Session VIII FUTURE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION STRATE­ GIES FOR INDIA—RECOMMENDATIONS V The Workshop aimed at eliciting the maximum possible dis­ cussion, on the basis of personal experiences as well as seek sugges­ tions from the representatives from the implementing bodies so that feasible recommendations could be made for positive consi­ deration by the Government of India, the concerned State Govern­ ments and Organizations for active follow up. Two important recent publications on sea turtles brought out by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (Marine Fisheries Information Service, Technical and Extension Series, 50 11-40, 1983, and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute Bulletin, 35 1-82, 1984) issued to participants at the Workshop, made available considerable amount of background information on the .status of work on sea turtles in India as well as information on the most recent mass nesting of the olive ridley along the Gahirmatha Coast, Orissa in January-February 1984. The Technical Session on ' Future research and conservation strategies for Indiar—Recommendations' was chaired by me- and the panel consisting of the Chairmen of the different technical sessions helped in formulating the draft recommendations. This and the lead papers presented at the various Technical Sessions, the ensuing discussions and the discussions at the final Session helped in the adoption of the recommendations. These have been carefully scrutinised, edited and grouped and are presented here for early action. A serious consideration and immediate follow-up action on these recommendations are necessary by all concerned agencies and organisations. There is a greater need today for developing and strengthening effective coordination between the Forest and Fisheries Departments of the various maritime States combined with the full cooperation and goodwill of the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. There is also an urgent need for interstate co-operation for sharing of data. The Universities and the sources of funding for research programmes viz., the I.C.A.R., Department of Environment and other agencies also need coordi­ nation so that funds are not frittered away on identical projects. There is an urgent need for identification of research on various aspects of the different species of sea turtles for which dispensation for collection and examination of sea turtle eggs, hatchlings, young vi and adults should be forthcoming from the enforcing authorities. Benign research would form part of the programme of the non- consumptive utilisation of sea turtles. A serious consideration is also necessary as to whether rational utilisation of the olive ridley resource could be undertaken by utilising the doomed eggs or culling a few adults. The Workshop recognised that this aspect needs immediate attention and calls for also investigations on population dynamics and recruitment of olive ridley in this region. Ways and means of minimising accidental or incidental catch by developing modified fishing gear or enforcing fishing regulations in selected areas will be necessary. I wish to specially place on record my sincere thanks to Shri J. C. Daniel, Shri P. Kannan, Dr. J. Frazier, Shri Romulus Whitaker, Dr. P. J. Sanjeeva Raj and Dr. P. Vedavyasa Rao for the help and cooperation that they extended in the conduct of the Workshop and the finalisation of the recommendations. Thanks are also due to the authorities of the Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, the CMFRI and the Crocodile Bank for making it possible for the participants to visit their facilities at Neelankarai, Muttukadu and Kovalam, and Vadanemmeli res­ pectively. I must also thank my colleagues Shri D. Sadananda Rao, Shri P. T. Meenakshisundaram, Shri M. Rajagopalan,