Turtle nesting, habitat management plan for Goa gets nod, prior measures tweaked

Panaji: As there was delay in approving the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011 for Goa, as an interim measure, the four turtle nesting sites in Goa were declared as ‘no take zones’ and ‘silence zones’ in November 2020. Now, that the CZMP for Goa has been approved, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has approved a sea turtle nesting and habitat management plan for the state, with some modifications to the interim measures earlier implemented.

It has been decided by the GCZMA to take up awareness measures for stakeholders like shack owners along with the tourism department and the forest department.

The forest department has also agreed to provide GPS location of the exact turtle nesting spots on the beaches for the last four years to ensure protection of the sites under the turtle nesting management plan.

“Now, the coastal zone management maps have been approved by ministry of environment, forest and climate change. The turtle nesting sites have been demarcated on the approved CZMP maps. The same has to be incorporated in the final sea turtle nesting and habitat management plan,” the GCZMA noted at its recent meeting.

Deputy conservator of forests Anand Jadhav said that for effective management of the turtle nesting sites, the forest department proposes that the guidelines for protection of turtles should be published widely amongst general public, tourist and shacks owners and other stakeholders

“DCF (wildlife) North Goa said that all white lights near turtle nesting sites should be banned or masked and only red lights shall be allowed at turtle nesting sites as turtle get disoriented due to white lights. He said that turtle nesting sites are notified under the Environment Protection Act 1986. Therefore, the tourism department should ensure proper signages at turtle nesting sites,” Jadhav said at the meeting.

It was decided that the forest department will be the implementing authority for the sea turtle nesting and habitat management plan.

At present, the forest department shifts turtle eggs found laid on any beaches other than the four notified turtle nesting sites to the hatcheries managed by the department at Morjim, Galgibaga and Agonda.

“DCF (wildlife) North Goa submitted that he will provide GPS coordinates where turtles laid their eggs for the last four years and also provide data of number of turtle nesting and hatchlings which will help authorities to identify such turtles nesting sites,” the minutes of the GCZMA meeting read.

Olive Ridleys are the most frequent visitors to the Goan coast. They are the smallest among all marine turtles.

The nesting season is from September to March.