An Olive Ridley Turtle dies after being trapped in a net
Admitting that this figure would itself be on par with turtle
mortalities in the previous years, Sanjiv Gopal of Greenpeace said,
"Turtle mortalities are sky-rocketing. At the very least, as a
first step, the government shoud commit to keeping the total
casualties this year on par with those in previous years. This
would require intensive patrolling to keep mechanised fishing out
of turtle congregation areas. The government then needs to set
progressively depreciating mortality reduction targets for the
coming turtle seasons."
Olive Ridley Turtles throng Orissa's coastline between November
and May every year, with thousands killed each year by illegal
fishing. Previously, state government officials had cited a lack of
funds as the reason for their inability to protect the species. In
2007, the state government asked for and received from the Centre a
sum of Rs. 2 crores for turtle protection. The funds were disbursed
in November 2007. This amount was in line with a Greenpeace
estimate of Rs. 2.02 crores needed for improved patrolling to
protect turtles (2). Further, the Fisheries Department has also
acquired two patrol vessels to enforce the no-trawling zones and
protect both turtles and traditional fishermen.
"Even though the resources are now available, it is ironic that
the turtle toll until January 31 is almost 3000 in the
Paradip-Chilika stretch, a dramatic 76% increase from the average
of the previous four turtle seasons. While reducing mortality to
zero might not be practical, it is high time the Government of
Orissa demonstrates its commitment to protecting its turtles, by
setting itself, progressively depreciating annual turtle mortality
reduction targets. It must start with what is left of this turtle
season. This benchmark would enable the Government's turtle
protection efforts to be evaluated in an objective manner" said
Sanjiv Gopal, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace India.
Illegal fishing and especially trawling has resulted in the
death of over 100,000 turtles over the last decade. Even as illegal
fishing in the Devi area continues unabated, the situation in the
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary remains unknown, with no independent
verification of official figures possible. Further, the government
is not open to joint efforts on monitoring the mortality of turtles
in collaboration with conservation groups and NGOs, as this would
reveal shocking levels of turtle casualties on the Orissa coast.
While the Government has maintained that annual mortalities from
the last three seasons has not exceeded 4000, estimates from
several independent agencies place this at a range above 10,000 for
every season.
"While funds for turtle protection have now been allocated,
Greenpeace remains committed to also resolving the concerns of
traditional fishermen impacted by conservation measures, either
through compensation of income lost or by the initiation of
alternative income generation approaches. Improved patrolling and
alternative income generation are two sides of the same coin, and
both are critical to resolve the unnecessary and recurring
turtle-fisher crisis" he further added.
For further information please visit www.greenpeaceindia.org
or contact
Saumya Tripathi, Greenpeace Communications, +91-93438 62212, 
Sanjiv Gopal, Oceans Campaigner, +91-98455 35416, 
Notes
1. This would be equal to not more than 3,760 mortalities
until the end of April 2008. Please refer to Annexure I for the
details
2. Please refer to
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/orissa-turtle-package
for the detailed financial proposal.
Annexure I
In March 2007, Greenpeace developed a financial estimate of
funds required to solve the turtle-fishermen crisis in the state.
The estimate specified an allocation of Rs. 2.02 Crores to the
Department of Forests (Wildlife), for improved patrolling to
protect turtles. This was informed by the fact that the Department
of Forests and Wildlife lacked the appropriate resources to ensure
effective patrolling. In November 2007, the Government of
Orissa, through the centre, allocated a sum of Rs. 2 Crores for
improved marine patrolling to protect the Olive Ridley Turtles.
Greenpeace has been monitoring the situation in the current
turtle season (2007-2008), from November 2007, to ensure that the
resources made available to the Department of Forests and Wildlife
are utilized appropriately and effectively. From evidence gathered
until January 2008, it is clear that inspite of the required
resources being made available, the Government of Orissa is once
again failing in it's responsibility to protect the turtles that
throng Orissa's coastal waters, every year from November to
May.
The turtle death toll, along the Paradip to Chilika coast, has
already crossed 3000 turtles (until January 31, 2008). Illegal
fishing in the Devi area, especially trawling, continues unabated.
The situation in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary remains unknown,
with no independent verification of official figures possible.
Ironically, after the resources have been made available for
patrolling, the situation has gone from bad to worse. The following
graph illustrates the current situation.
The turtle mortalities until the end of January 2008, has
increased by a dramatic 76% or 1281, to a current mortality figure
of 2970, as compared to the average mortality figure of 1689 from
the previous four turtle seasons (2003-2004 to 2006-2007
season).
On the basis of previous annual records and the trend,
* The mortality figure for 2007-2008 has been calculated by
including the average mortality figure from February to April from
the previous four turtle seasons (2003-2004 to 2006-2007)
On the basis of the average mortality trends from February to
April, the annual mortality for 2007-2008 is expected to be 4550 at
the very least; an increase by 1281 or 39%, compared to the average
mortality figure of 3269 over the previous four turtle seasons
(2003-2004 to 2006-2007).
As a first step, to demonstrate commitment and accountability,
towards resources which have been made available to ensure
effective patrolling and reduction in the mortalities of turtles
from mechanised fisheries and especially trawling, Greenpeace is
calling the Government of Orissa and the Department of Forests and
Wildlife in particular
• To put in place mechanisms, which would include regular
marine patrolling, to ensure that the current rate of mortalities
in the Devi region, are reduced.
• By way of an objective evaluation of these efforts, this
would imply that the mortalities of Olive Ridley turtles in the
devi region does not exceed 3760 for the current season, until
April 2008, the current figure until January 2008 being 2970.
• This would mean that the mortality for February, March and
April 2008 does not exceed 790 or a drop in mortality by 21%.
As part of it's ongoing campaign to protect the Olive Ridley
Turtles, and the interests of traditional fisher communities,
Greenpeace will continue to monitor the situation and await to see
how the Government of Orissa responds to this challenge positively,
before taking any further action.