The coastal ecological systems have features like estuaries, mangroves and sand bars. Estuaries and mangroves are noticed in the river mouths, where rivers and rivulets join the sea.
The river mouths are very rich in biodiversity. The ocean based food of humans and animals are received from estuaries and rivers joining the sea or ocean. But man always spoils the ecological systems of estuaries and mangroves, including sand cast coasts for his selfish motives.
The whole seacoast of Odisha is now used by us for commercial motives which warrant climatic disasters. The sources of ocean like rivers and rivulets are heavily used for commercial purposes due to rising number of industries and faulty agricultural practices. A major part of the Odisha coast is sand cast with sand bars. A variety of reptiles, birds and rodents prefer to lay eggs there.
Similarly, the vegetations in sand cast areas of seacoast are quite different from the silted areas of river mouths and creeks.
At present, while the estuaries and mangrove lands are occupied for different agricultural and piscicultural practices, the sand cast areas of the sea coast are occupied for establishment of industries and tourism resorts. Our seacoast is very famous all over the globe for the Olive Ridley sea turtles, because there are three distinctive advantages available for the reptile to continue its progeny, such as the sand cast seacoast, easy access to sand laden seacoast and safety of the off-springs.
Sometimes due to sea erosion, the shores become stiff and cannot be accessible for these reptiles to climb up to dig holes to lay eggs.
Under such a situation, either the reptiles are forced to leave the shore and go back to their original habitats or meet death on painful conditions being pregnant. In such a case, we have to help them overcome such painful experiences.
There should be a management policy and plan for the rookeries of Olive Ridley turtles. Now whole seacoast of Odisha is going to be a petro chemical commercial hub and other polluting commercial units, including piscicultural fields. The Hadadia Petro Chemicals is going to spend Rs 28,700 crore in the Subarnarekha Port of Odisha for refinery works of petro-chemicals. If such things materialise, then the entire ecological systems of Odisha coast will be polluted. As a result, the whole rookery systems of Odisha coast will be spoiled. The Subarnarekha river mouth is very close to Gahirmatha rookery.
Gradually, rookeries are increasing along the sea coast of Odisha and the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles and their sites are also increasing, which represents the richness of seacoast from biological point of view. Needless to say, strict vigilance and protective measures by the State Forest and Environment Department have to be taken to maintain a healthy biological process in the rookeries and the sanctuaries.
The predatory animals like jackals, stray dogs, crows, sea eagles apart from birds and rodents eat and damage the nests and eggs of the reptiles in the rookeries. The roots of big and small trees with weeds should be removed from the sites of rookeries to facilitate smooth nesting by the turtles.
This year a record number of Olive Ridley turtles came to Gahirmatha and Rushikulya rookeries for laying eggs. Sea turtles apart, different birds are also coming to our seacoast to pass severe cold of winter.
Due to mechanised fishing and use of nylon net for catching fish, the Olive Ridley turtles are killed in large numbers. However, due to intensive efforts of the State Forest Department and thanks to the yearly ban on fishing, the causalities of reptiles could be reduced to a great extent.
At present the Government of India is going to establish a number of fishing jetties along the sea coasts for greater harvest of fish which will give maximum commercial benefits to the fishing communities.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced to create the jetties along the seacoasts for greater procurement of sea food. It should be the duties of State Government and Government of India to prevent jetty-activities in rookeries, as this could hinder mass nesting of the Olive Ridley turtles.
Another worry is the causalities of new-born or newly hatched reptiles. While they move towards the ocean after being hatched through nature’s support, they face threats of predatory animals and birds. Adequate protection need to be provided to them. It is good to find that the people of nearby villages and employees of the State Forest Department are jointly protecting the hatcheries of Olive Ridley turtles.
Before Independence when the Gadjats were under control by British rulers, the sale of turtles and turtle eggs for table purposes and for eateries were going on. The Rajkanika State ruler was selling the eggs for revenue from Gahirmatha and Dangmal. Such practices are no longer continuing since the turtles are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The Olive Ridley Turtle is a schedule- I animal under the Act.
(The writer is a former forest officer and environmentalist, M-9937460649)