Tamil Nadu: Fishermen Release Olive Ridley Turtles Caught Accidentally In Their Nets, Watch Video (image-twitter/supriyasahuias)

Two fishermen from the coastal Dhanushkodi rescued and released 8 Olive Ridley turtles which were accidentally caught in their fishing nets. The turtles rescued were later released into the sea.

Sharing the video of the turtles, IAS officer Supriya Sahu wrote on X, “Fishermen rescue and release 8 Olive Ridley turtles which were accidentally caught in their fishing nets at Dhanushkodi in Rameshwaram. We have asked Forest officers to further strengthen the training and orientation of fisherfolk on such operations and reward them for their gesture”.

Fishermen rescue and release 8 Olive Ridley turtles which were accidentally caught in their fishing nets at Dhanushkodi in Rameshwaram. We have asked Forest officers to further strengthen the training and orientation of fisherfolk on such operations and reward them for their… pic.twitter.com/90PqxttqLO

— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) February 22, 2024

On Wednesday afternoon, two fishermen, Agnelo Fernandes and Pele Fernandes noticed the turtles struggling in the sea near the shore. The fisherman said that they brought the turtles onto the shore and then released them after surveilling for any injuries.

The olive ridley sea turtle also known as the Pacific ridley sea turtle in the family Cheloniidae. The species is the second smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.

The presence of the olive ridley along the shores of the Visakhapatnam is a phenomenon deeply rooted in the region’s geographical and environmental characteristics. The beaches of the Visakhapatnam have sandy beaches with sloping shores which makes it an ideal nesting ground for these creatures.

But these creatures face hurdles resulting in their deaths. It is mainly due to the trawling activities and pollution from industries. Trawling is a fishing method that involves the dragging of large nets along the seabed. It remains a big threat to the ridley turtles as they often become entangled in fishing gear leading to their suffocation.