Chennai Coast Gears Up for Sea Turtle Season

State government officials in Chennai are commencing preparations for the sea turtle season, scheduled from November to May. This proactive approach includes launching awareness campaigns targeting fishermen to ensure cautious operation of trawlers. Forest department officers are coordinating inter-departmental meetings with the fisheries department, coastal security groups, and local bodies throughout October to December.

A comprehensive standard operating procedure for sea turtle conservation was released last month. This guide outlines specific protocols for government agencies and the general public to follow. The sea turtle mating period is anticipated from November through mid-December, with peak nesting activity occurring from late December to February.

Hatching is expected in March. Fishermen will receive guidance on operating trawlers with greater care, particularly from mid-December onwards, and will be encouraged to maintain a five-nautical-mile buffer zone from the coast. The mandatory use of turtle-excluder devices will also be emphasized.

Coastal security groups will conduct moderate patrols, and environmental organizations will be involved in beach clean-up initiatives. Preparations, including the installation of signboards and informing local bodies to minimize beach activities, will intensify later this month and in December, coinciding with the approach of the nesting period.