Marine turtle mortalities along the Tamil Nadu coast of India and the need for turtle-friendly fisheries

Abstract

In the past two decades, sea turtle mortality has increased due to a variety of anthropogenic activities along the Nagapattinam and Chennai coast region in Tamil Nadu, South India. Weekly field surveys were conducted over an eight-month period from December 2013 to July 2014 to monitor the mortality of turtles in these coastal areas, revealing a notable disruption in the nesting activity of the turtles during January–March; the worst affected were mature individuals. Anthropogenic activities like boat strikes and fishing activity were recorded as the major causes of turtle death within this region. This paper highlights the need for better turtle monitoring systems within this part of South India, particularly for endangered species like the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), whilst also suggesting suitable conservation measures to protect them.