Goa yet to seek funds for Marine conservation
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, APRIL 29
Although central government has rolled out financial scheme for the marine conservation programme, Goa is yet to submit its proposal seeking the fundings, a senior functionary said.
Prof B C Chowdhery, expert from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) said that as per the study conducted by WII under marine turtle project seven marine species of the country are said to be endangered and the central government is trying their best to protect it.
The species of whale shark, leatherback turtle, Hawksbill turtle, giant clam, dugong, belanoglosis and sea cucumber are covered under this scheme and state governments are asked to furnish their project reports.
“All these seven species will be protected through United Nations Development Project (UNDP) fundings, who has sponsored 3,000 US dollars,” Chowdhery told reporters.
“Apart from this fundings, the central government will be also giving hundred percent financial assistant to the states to protect their marine species,” he added.
Talking about Goa he said that, Goa is yet to submit its proposal over protection to marine species. “Actual the thing is that all these endangered species are not found in Goa but still they can ask for fundings for turtle conservation under same scheme,” Chowdhery said.
He said that except for the states of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar island and Gujarat, rest of the states are yet to furnish the conservation plans.
The project will be funded by the central government during eleventh five year plan.
Whalesharks are found in Arabian sea and are most popular on Gujarat coast while leatherback turtle are sighted in Anadaman and Nicobar and Tamil Nadu.
Chowdhary said that giant clam and dugong are found in Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshdweep and Belanoglosis are sighted on Tamil Nadu’s coast.
He said that turtles which come to Indian coast for nesting, travel to Sri Lanka for breeding. “They travel a long distance and hence they are called as ‘Global Species’,” he said.
Expert feels that there is need of bio-literal programme between India and Sri Lanka in-order to study the proper movement of the turtles between two countries.
Briefing media, Turtle biologist Dr Jack Frazier said that though there is proper protection given to turtles in India, the coastal development has been a major threat to the marine turtles.
“Its clear that today ports, oil, gas extraction, coastal development and human disturbances pose a great threat to turtle habitats,” he said.
He said that there is need that the government bodies and conservation establishments act to protect these habitats before it is too late.
Dr Kartik Shankar, president of International Sea Turtle Society, said that this symposium has offered researchers and conservationists across the world to share notes both on the latest science on these enigmatic species and the latest threats facing them.
