PANJIM: Even as sea turtles are protected under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, when it comes to conservation, the turtle nesting sites are not recognised under the Wildlife Protection Act or the Indian Forest Act but are designated under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2011.
With the increasing intrusion of tourism activities and given that CRZ authorities do have much control, environmentalists feel that it’s time for the government to hand over these designated areas to the forest department for better conservation of sea turtles along with stringent restrictions and actions against the offenders.
All the five species of sea turtles in India, including Olive Ridley turtles, which visit Goa’s coastline for nesting, are legally protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits its killing, trade and demarcation of buffer zone with restrictions and severe punishments. Incidentally, tigers have the same status as sea turtles – Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Mandrem and Morjim in North Goa and Agonda and Galjibaga along the coastal belt in South Goa are designated as turtle nesting sites under CRZ 2011. However, none of these areas come under the forest department except for certain sectors that house turtle nurseries.
“Turtle nesting sites are not notified under Wildlife Protection Act and hence the forest department has no powers to act against those intruding into the protected areas. Our role is restricted to rescuing the turtles and their nests,” a senior forest official said adding ‘it is a policy decision that the government will have to take, whether to hand over the site to forest department or not’.
The official explained that once the designated areas are notified under Wildlife Protection Act or Forest Act, then there would be a sea change. Wherein, besides prohibitions on tourism activities and other commercial activities, there would even be restrictions on pubic movement.
Renowned environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar concurs with the view of environmentalists that CRZ has failed as an authority to protect the turtle nesting areas in view that it took the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to pass an order to demolish over 150 illegal structures operational in ‘No Development Zone’ of these designated sites.
“It’s high time the government takes some serious steps. Turtles have already been given protection under the Wildlife Act. Coming to the State of Goa, in a bid to conserve the sea turtles, we also need to notify these areas under the said Act,” Kerkar said.
Another wildlife conservationist also pointed out that in order to provide better management, protection and conservation, the turtle nesting areas need to be handed over to the forest department at the earliest.
“Though these areas are part of CRZ, the govt can hand over the portion of these coastal belts to the forest department,” he said.
