NATIONAL MARINE TURTLE ACTION PLAN
CONTEXT
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released ‘Marine Mega Fauna Stranding Guidelines’ and ‘National Marine Turtle Action Plan’.
KEY FINDINGS
- The documents contain ways and means to 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.
THESE TWO DOCUMENTS HIGHLIGHT:
- Actions to be taken for handling stranded animals on the shore, stranded or entangled animals in the sea or on a boat,
- Management actions for improved coordination,
- Reducing threats to marine species and their habitats,
- Rehabilitation of degraded habitats,
- Enhancing people’s participation,
- Advance scientific research and exchange of information on marine mammals and marine turtles and their habitats.
STATUS OF TURTLES IN INDIA
- They are protected in Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, under Schedule I.
- They are also protected under the Biodiversity Conservation and Ganga Rejuvenation programme
- Five species of Indian turtles along with their IUCN status are as follows:
- Olive Ridley – Vulnerable
- Green turtle – Endangered
- Loggerhead – Vulnerable
- Hawksbill – Critically Endangered
- Leather back – Vulnerable