Tamil Nadu has introduced a statewide standard operating procedure for marine turtle conservation, restricting night events, vehicular movement and bonfires near nesting sites while setting new responsibilities for forest, fisheries and coastal security authorities.
The SOP was released by Forest Minister R V Ranjithkumar at the valedictory function of Wildlife Week on Thursday. It applies to all marine turtles found along the state’s coast, expanding beyond existing procedures focused on Olive Ridley turtles.
Under the guidelines, night events, vehicle movement and bonfires will be restricted on beaches within 200 metres of a turtle nesting site. No-entry buffer zones extending three metres from turtle eggs must also be created. The forest department is required to coordinate with government departments, coastal security groups, non-governmental organisations and local stakeholders involved in conservation work.
The turtle season in Tamil Nadu runs from October to March, while hatchlings generally emerge from late January onwards. The SOP divides conservation activities into three phases: pre-season preparations from October to December, nesting-season measures from December to March, and post-season work from April to May.
The forest department has been directed to conduct frequent monitoring, organise awareness and orientation sessions, and hold beach-cleaning drives. Hatcheries are to be established using bamboo poles and mesh or jute. Officers must record and geo-tag nest locations, while natural repellents may be applied before hatching to protect eggs and hatchlings from ant attacks.
The fisheries department has been assigned responsibility for preventing boats from trawling within five nautical miles of turtle nesting sites. Trawlers must be fitted with turtle excluder devices, and fishers have been instructed not to use harmful fishing gear, including gillnets and trawl nets, in ways that could threaten marine turtles.
Coastal security groups must conduct night patrols to deter poaching during the nesting period. Members of the public have been told not to photograph hatchlings or use torches and flashlights near them. Participation in turtle walks will be allowed only after obtaining approval from the forest department.
The guidelines also require Forest Conservators, officers and wildlife wardens to review the SOP periodically. Officers must submit an annual report to the principal chief conservator of forests on the status of implementation. Rakesh Kumar Dogra, principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, said the guidelines cover activities across the full turtle-conservation cycle. An animal ambulance was also flagged off during the event at which the SOP was released.
