Officials seize two trawlers, rescue seven Olive Ridley turtles near Hope Island

The Olive Ridley turtles rescued from the fishing nets of a trawler during a raid near Hope Island in Kakinada district on Friday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

CORINGA 

The Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary authorities accompanied by the Fisheries officials on Friday seized two trawlers and rescued seven Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), classified as vulnerable, which were trapped in the fishing nets of the trawlers near Hope Island in Kakinada district. 

The joint team of officials found four turtles in one trawler and three in another that were engaged in fishing within five km of the island. 

“We have inspected the boats and trawlers engaged in fishing activity within five km from the shoreline of Hope Island. The inspection aims at tracing the causes of the mortality among Olive Ridley turtles in recent weeks in the wake of various allegations over the cause of death,” Coringa Widlife Sanctuary Ranger S.S.R. Vara Prasad told The Hindu.

Wildlife officials checking the fishing net of a trawler during the raid.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

‘’The seven turtles, trapped in the nets of the two trawlers, have been found alive and released into the sea. The two trawlers have been seized and handed over to the Fisheries authorities for further action,” said Mr. Vara Prasad.

The trawlers allegedly did not use the Turtle Exclusion Device (TED) recommended to prevent turtles from being caught.