AP Foresters Flag Threat to Marine Species From Trawlers
Forest authorities are conducting workshops to sensitise stakeholders across the state to reduce marine mortality
Vijayawada: Foresters have flagged the increasing threat to marine species like whales and Olive Ridley turtles due to fishing trawlers in deep sea off the coast of Andhra Pradesh.
Recently, a Bryde’s whale and two calves of whale sharks had washed ashore dead along the Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam coastline. Foresters, who examined them, say they might have been hit by fishing trawlers in the deep sea resulting in serious injuries and their death.
Similarly, nearly 113 Olive Ridley turtles had been found dead near the Pulicat Lake. It is suspected they got caught in nets or suffered hits involving the trawlers, which come from Tamil Nadu and entered AP waters illegally.
AP Forest authorities have written to the Fisheries Commission in Tamil Nadu to initiate necessary action, preventing the TN boats from entering AP waters. They express fears over Olive Ridley turtles being harmed, especially when it is their breeding season. In this regard, they referred to a device called turtle excluder which can be fitted to fishing nets. It facilitates turtles caught in the net to escape through a back into the sea without getting trapped and perishing.
Fisheries and forest officials of AP have issued directions to operators of fishing trawlers and fishermen to ensure the safety of marine life by using turtle excluders and avoiding certain areas, so that fish could be protected and conserved.
Officials have informed marine fish exporters that unless they obtain certifications from agencies about details of their fishing location in deep sea and usage of safety devices, the US and other nations will reject their exports.
Forest authorities are conducting workshops to sensitise stakeholders across the state to reduce marine mortality, especially the endangered marine megafauna, including whales, sharks and turtles, particularly during their breeding, nesting and migration season from December 2025 to May 2026.
Officials are strengthening surveillance, promoting use of turtle excluder devices, conducting awareness programmes among fishing communities to minimise accidental captures and ensure effective conservation of marine biodiversity along the AP coast.
Additional principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) Shanti Priya Pande said, “We have been taking up a series measures to sensitise the operators of fishing trawlers and fishermen on the need to protect and conserve marine species. We are also trying to coordinate with all stakeholders to step up surveillance in this matter.”
