Plea to save turtles, marine species from effluents
Due to dumping of untreated effluents by chemical units, several incidents of fish-kill had been reported at Pudimadaka, Vada Chipurapalle, Mutyalammapalem and Bheemili
image for illustrative purpose
The National Marine Turtle Action Plan says it is keen to implement a conservation paradigm for marine mega fauna and marine turtles
Visakhapatnam: SOCIAL and environmental activists have welcomed the National Marine Turtle Action Plan announced recently by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and sought measures to protect Olive Ridley turtles which come in large numbers to Visakhapatnam and several parts of Odisha on the banks of River Rushikulya for mass nesting.
Former IAS officer EAS.Sarma in representations sent to RP Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Adityanath Das, Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, said an action plan was required specifically to prevent large-scale damage to turtles and other marine resources along Andhra Pradesh coast.
He said due to industrial pollution and overexploitation of coastal resources, the number of fish is fast dwindling.
Arjili Dasu, executive director of Fisherfolk Foundation, told Bizz Buzz that due to dumping of untreated effluents by chemical units, several incidents of fish-kill had been reported at Pudimadaka, Vada Chipurapalle, Mutyalammapalem and Bheemili.
The National Marine Turtle Action Plan says it is keen to implement a conservation paradigm for marine mega fauna and marine turtles.
While announcing the plan, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that both floral and faunal diversity including the marine biodiversity was the beauty of India and there was a need to conserve it with best possible action and interventions.
He said "India has rich marine biodiversity along a vast coastline of over 7,500 km. From colorful fish, sharks, including whale sharks, turtles and big mammals like whales, dolphins and dugongs to bright corals. Marine habitats not only harbor diverse species but also provide resources essential for human wellbeing."
The plan contains ways and means to not only promote inter-sectoral action for conservation but also guide improved coordination amongst the government, civil society and all relevant stakeholders on the response to cases of stranding, entanglement, injury or mortality of marine mammals and also conservation of marine turtles.
