Study finds Olive Ridley turtles avoid tourist beaches in Ratnagiri

Baby Olive ridley turtles on a beach in Ratnagiri, PICS/AMOL HANDORE

The research paper titled "Impacts of Anthropogenic Factors on Nesting Behaviour of Olive Ridley Turtles at Ratnagiri Coast" by Amol R Handore and Ravindra N Bhavare which was recently published in the Journal of Advanced Zoology, has found that while the forest department is taking all the best possible efforts for the conservation of these turtles that visit the Maharashtra coast for nesting, tourist beaches with resorts were avoided by female turtles.

The study, which was conducted between 2019 and 2023, revealed that 60 per cent of beach resorts release sewage and dump non-degradable solid waste along the beaches, as there is a lack of a proper sewage and garbage disposal system at Murud and Karde. The study indicates that female turtles avoid nesting on sewage-prone beach stretches. On the other hand, beaches without resorts, or with fewer resorts, showed maximum nesting density.

Pile of garbage at Murud beach in Ratnagiri district

A recent study by wildlife researcher Handore reveals that despite conservation efforts by all the important stakeholders, the Olive ridley turtles face growing challenges, primarily driven by human activities and the looming threat of climate change.

Unlike Odisha's eastern coast, famous for the mass Arribada nesting events, the Olive ridley turtles nest sporadically along Maharashtra's shores. Alarmingly, researchers have observed a significant shift in their nesting season. Traditionally nesting from September to March, the turtles now arrive between December and May, a consequence of changing climate patterns.

"This seasonal shift is impacting the species' survival. Increased sand temperatures during the latter part of the season, particularly in April and May, have led to reduced hatchling survival rates. Furthermore, the sex ratio of hatchlings is increasingly skewed towards females due to temperature-dependent sex determination in turtle embryos, raising concerns for the species' long-term population stability," said Handore.

The study also found that tourism and unregulated coastal development are proving detrimental to the turtles' nesting success. "Beaches littered with non-degradable waste, heavy artificial lighting from beachfront resorts, and activities like water sports have created hostile conditions for nesting females, forcing them to abandon traditional nesting sites," said Handore.

A survey conducted also pointed out that the region's fishing community offered some hope, as many fishermen, holding cultural reverence for the turtles, view them as divine beings and release any individuals caught as bycatch. Yet, accidental entanglements remain a threat, highlighting the need for wider adoption of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing operations.

Recently, the Maharashtra Forest Department entrusted Olive Ridley conservation responsibilities to the Mangrove Foundation, a specialised body focused on preserving coastal and marine biodiversity. The foundation has launched several initiatives, including awareness programmes for fishermen, community engagement through eco-tourism, and incentives to compensate for fishing net damages caused by turtle entanglement.