Marine Turtle Networks

 Photo credit :Adhith Swaminathan, 2009

There are several regionally important populations of marine turtles in south Asia, which face a variety of anthropogenic threats. Different agencies are involved in the conservation and management of sea turtles in the India, from students to fishing communities to government departments. Several factors need to coalesce for effective conservation of marine turtles, foremost amongst which is collaboration between these agencies and cooperation between the states whose habitats the turtles utilise.

Several local and community-based conservation groups are involved in the conservation of marine turtles in India, including at key sites such as Orissa, which hosts three mass nesting beaches for marine turtles. These groups can greatly benefit from a common network which provides the necessary technical inputs and training in science based conservation and monitoring programmes. Members of the network can also share and learn from each other, and synergise their actions towards more effective conservation. The network was established through a workshop in January 2009.

Dakshin aims to support and facilitate the network, and undertake capacity building for these groups along the mainland coast and islands of India, with associated programmes of research. A cohesive network using turtle monitoring and conservation activities, can foster cooperation between local agencies and state agencies within the country and mitigate potential conflicts.

Team: Kartik Shanker, Seema Shenoy

Publications and resources

Marine Turtles of the Indian Sub-continent - Click here to order a copy.

Newsletters

Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter

Manuals

Census Technique for Arribadas

Shanker, K., B.C. Choudhury & H.A. Andrews (2003) Sea turtle conservation: Beach Management and hatchery programmes. Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu, India.

Shanker, K., B. Pandav & H.A. Andrews (2003) Sea turtle conservation: Research and management techniques. Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu, India.

Shanker, K., B. Pandav & B.C. Choudhury (2003) Sea turtle conservation: Population Monitoring and Census. Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu, India.

Choudhury, B.C., Pandav, B., Tripathy, B. & Andrews, H.A.(2003) Sea turtle conservation: Eco (turtle) friendly coastal development. A GOI UNDP Project Manual. Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu , India . (Edited by Kartik Shanker)