Lok Sabha Question No. 67 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Death of Endangered Olive Ridley Turtles
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Raja A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 67

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## Death of Endangered Olive Ridley Turtles

## 67. SHRI RAJA A:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the carcasses of endangered Olive Ridley Turtles reaching along the shores of Vizag Coast in Bay of Bengal, in recent months;
- (b) the details of the concern expressed by Marine Environment Experts on the issue;
- (c) whether any inquiry/study has been made in this regard, if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for death of turtles; and
- (d) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent such incidents in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (d) As informed by the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, carcasses of Olive Ridley Turtles have been found along the shores of Vizag coast in Bay of Bengal. Enquiry made by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department indicate entanglement of turtles in trawler nets as  the  main cause  of  death of turtles. However,  such details are  not maintained in the Ministry. The important steps taken by the Government for the conservation and protection of marine turtles include the following:
- i. Five  species  of  marine  turtles  viz., Olive  ridley  turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ),  Green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ),  Hawks bill turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ),  Leatherback  turtle  ( Dermochelys  coriacea )  and  Loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ) reported to be found in India are listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 thereby providing them the highest degree of protection.
- ii. The  Ministry  provides  financial  and  technical  support  to  the  States  for conservation and management of wildlife including marine turtles and its habitat  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme-  Development  of  Wildlife Habitats.
- iii. The Ministry has included marine turtles as one of the 22 species for taking up focused conservation programme for recovery of critically endangered species under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Development of Wildlife Habitats.
- iv. The Ministry through amendment of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 during 2022 has empowered the India Coast Guard for entry, search and detention in case of any violations in relation to marine species listed in schedules of the Act, including marine turtles.
- v. The Ministry has released a National Marine Turtle Action Plan with the aim to  conserve  marine  turtles  and  their  habitats  in  India.  The  Action  Plan focusses  on  reducing  threats,  conserving  critical  habitats,  exchanging scientific data, increasing public awareness and emphasizes on a participatory approach in conservation of marine turtles and its habitat.
- vi. The  Ministry  has  released  'Marine  Megafauna  Stranding  Management Guidelines'  in  2021  for  management  of  stranding  and  entanglement  of marine mega fauna including marine turtles.
- vii. A  network  of  coastal  and  marine  protected  areas  under  the  Wild  Life (Protection)  Act,  1972  has  been  created  for  the  conservation  of  marine species, including turtles.

*****