KARACHI: Development of infrastructures along sea turtle beaches and a rise in seawater pollution pose a serious threat to the endangered turtle population, said the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) on Friday while calling for an urgent government action.

A statement has been released in connection with the 20th anniversary of the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the conservation and management of marine turtles and their habitats of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia (IOSEA) under the aegis of the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), to which Pakistan is also a signatory.

The MoU has played a key role in greater collaboration between signatory states of the Indian Ocean for conservation and protection of marine turtle species.

“As a result of the construction of huts and other infrastructure along the Sandspit and Hawkesbay beaches — the major turtle nesting grounds — population of this endangered species is severely affected. Collapsing huts and rubble is a major threat for nesting females which come to lay eggs along the beaches,” it said.

Construction of huts along Sandspit, Hawkesbay has affected population of the endangered species

Historically, five species of marine turtles are known to inhabit Pakistani waters; of these green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are the most known because of their nesting areas along the Sandspit and Hawkesbay beaches in Sindh and Taq (Ormara), Astola Island, Gwadar (headland) and Daran (Jiwani) along the Balochistan coast.

Realising the ecological significance of sea turtles, the Sindh wildlife department started their protection along the Sindh coast in 1975, which has been further supported by WWF-P and other conservation organisations and local communities.

Moreover, WWF-P, Daran Conservation Society (a local community-based organisation) and the forest and wildlife department are engaged in conservation efforts to protect these turtles along Daran beach, Balochistan.

According to WWF-P, olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) used to nest along the coast of Pakistan; however, no active nesting of this turtle species has been reported since 2001. The organisation is planning to initiate satellite tagging of olive Ridley turtles, aiming to delve into the details about the nesting sites and migration pattern of the species.

The other three species, which include loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), have been reported in Pakistani waters by fishermen over the last two decades.

According to experts, multiple threats are faced by marine turtles in Pakistani waters, which include habitat degradation, increased seawater pollution and entanglement in fishing gear.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2021