Team Herald
PANJIM: In a bid to create a safe and enabling environment for turtles across the coast, the State government is working towards a project, ‘Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles’, as part of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP).
The project, which focuses on biodiversity conservation and capacity building, is estimated at Rs 7.58 crore. Forest Department will be the implementing agency for the project, which is being drafted by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
“The objective of the project is to create a safe and enabling environment for turtles by affording protection against death/injuries besides putting in place a proper rescue and recovery mechanism thereby ensuring ‘biodiversity conservation’,” sources said, adding that a large number of turtles are currently reported from the Goa coast either dead or injured.
The project also aims to sensitise stakeholders like Tourism Department, water sports and shack operators and tourists by strengthening interpretation and knowledge sharing besides high value research.
Goa Biodiversity Board (GBB) will undertake a census of turtle hatchling in the State over the years and prepare a database. “Promoting eco-tourism activities in turtle nesting areas will help protect the sites, which are facing threat,” sources said.
The project also speaks of setting up two modern turtle rescue and rehabilitation centres at Morjim and Agonda. “The research centers will undertake research on turtle mortalities offshore and poor hatchling and egg survival rate. The reasons will be identified and steps will be taken to improve the situation,” sources said.
