One fishing hamlet is setting an example in turtle conservation. Its exemplary work is however lost on the residents of the fishing villages surrounding it. Not only that, it is being undone.
The fishermen of Kovalam refrain from using certain fishing nets that are known to trap turtles.
However, to their surprise , they recently found a big turtle entrapped in a net (called thirukkai net) meant for catching sting rays ( thirukkai ) “in their waters.”
The hapless turtle was rescued.
Banned nets
The incident has brought to light the disturbing fact that the fishermen of the surrounding hamlets are using the thirukkai and kuduva nets, “banned” by the Kovalam fishermen.
Prithiviraj Manivelu, a resident of Kovalam, said these nets were being spread close to the shore thereby creating walls that prevented turtles from nesting on the beaches.
Spreading of these nets also kept sting rays and many other marine species from the bay area of the Kovalam beach, he added.
For Mr. Manivelu, the recent incident involving the big turtle is proof that the primary reason for the reduction in the turtle population is the thirukkai net, being used by the fishermen in the neighbouring hamlets.
120 turtles died
N. Desamuthu, the fisherman who was part of the team that rescued the turtle, said around 120 turtles had died in Kovalam alone due to the use of these nets.
A live video of the turtle being rescued by the young fishermen is available on Youtube (https://youtube/oYGG1JDtjzk).
The shooting and uploading of the video are aimed at raising awareness among sea life conservations and the government agencies concerned, about what these nets can do to marine population.
