AUGUSTO RODRIGUES
Around 50 turtle enthusiasts who gath ered at Morjim beach to protest against what they described as the government’s failure to fol low established procedures at an Olive Ridley turtle nesting site witnessed a disturbing incident on Sunday night. A turtle walked ashore amid loud music and rev elry, only to turn back to the sea without nesting.
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Shocked by the sight, one of the enthusiasts immediately contact ed a turtle guard stationed at the hatchery in Tembwada, instruct ing that Mandrem beach be kept under watch. “A turtle has just returned to the sea, disturbed by the party going on at Morjim, and will most probably try and nest in Mandrem. Please send a guard to keep a watch,” the message relayed over the mobile phone stated. The turtle enthusiasts—locals from the northern coastal belt and foreigners—had assembled to dis cuss ways of ensuring that tourism authorities and the police follow norms applicable to beaches de clared as turtle nesting sites. The meeting followed an O Heraldo report titled ‘Sewage trench dug at Morjim turtle nesting beach’, pub lished on January 9, 2026. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, lists the Olive Ridley turtle under Schedule I, granting it the highest level of legal protection. The IUCN Red List classifies the Olive Ridley, one of the world’s liv ing marine turtle species, as vul nerable. Witnessing the turtle return to the sea without nesting strength ened the resolve of those present, many of whom said approaching the High Court of Bombay at Goa would be their last resort if au thorities continued to ignore the plight of turtles in the name of tourism.
“We are in the middle of January and not a single turtle has walked ashore at Dream beach to nest. Two did so last year, and today we have seen with our own eyes the effect of loud music on turtles wanting to nest,” said an upset Jaw ish Moniz, who travelled from Vagator. “The hotel on top of Dream beach keeps playing loud mu sic, uses bright lights and even fireworks, and despite nu merous complaints, the police have not acted. This shows the priority of the government,” Moniz added. Artist Anicka de Souza Proenca, who drove from Calan gute for the meeting, said she felt saddened by what she witnessed. “I humbly request our representatives to take their role more seriously. If we have to fight, how are they representing us?” she asked. Despite a large party continuing on the beach, with mu sic allegedly being played beyond permitted decibel levels, turtle enthusiasts from Morjim, Calangute, Anjuna, Vaga tor, Mandrem and Siolim, along with visitors from France, Spain and Germany, gathered to assess the level of environ mental and noise pollution at the turtle nesting site. “It is outrageous that the Tourism Department has not yet filed a police complaint after sand was dug on a beach declared a turtle nesting site. No work is allowed within the No Development Zone (NDZ). Everyone is entitled to a clean environment, and by pretending everything is fine, the Department of Tourism is actually driving tourists away,” said retired captain Gerald Fernandes, a member of the Noise Monitoring Committee (NMC) appointed by the High Court. “The Environment Protection Act prescribes criminal prosecution,” Fernandes added. Turtle enthusiasts said they were direct witnesses to loud music, garbage strewn across the beach, and the eco logical impact of a trench that was permitted by the author ities. “There is no doubt about the garbage and the fact that beach beds are allowed, along with bright lights and loud music. Seeing is believing and we are witnesses to how the authorities keep pretending ignorance about the life cycle of Olive Ridley turtles,” said Aaron Fernandes, a member of the sub-committee of the Goa State Biodiversity Board Strategic Action Plan (GSBBSAP) on herpetofauna, mam mals and associated species. “Officials of the Department of Tourism, during meetings, keep claiming they are unaware of turtles, but when sug gestions are made, they do not act. After being told what needs to be done, they prefer to do the opposite,” fumed Fernandes, who hails from Siolim. As revellers continued to enjoy the beach party, Claire from France echoed the anguish of many foreigners who joined the local turtle enthusiasts.“Goa today is far differ ent from what it was many years ago. Whenever I return, I wonder whether it will be my last visit. It hurts because I love Goa,” she said. So far this season, eggs from 14 turtles have been shifted to the hatchery at Tembwada in Morjim, though the num ber of eggs in each pit has not been disclosed. “We have been instructed by the head office not to disclose the num ber of eggs in each pit on the boards,” said a forest guard, on the condition of anonymity.
