Strict tourism restrictions on St Martin’s Island have tripled Olive Ridley turtle nesting this season, with thousands of eggs protected in hatcheries as conservation measures help restore the island’s fragile marine ecosystem.
The coral-rich island of St Martin’s in the Bay of Bengal now has no tourists. The entire beach lies quiet and empty. In this calm setting, mother sea turtles have been coming ashore to lay eggs.
Between December last year and February this year, a total of 61 Olive Ridley turtles came to several points along the beach to lay eggs. Officials from the Department of Environment collected 5,022 eggs from these nests, while about 1,500 eggs were eaten by dogs.
Investigations show the number of turtles coming ashore to lay eggs has increased significantly compared with last year. The main reason is strict enforcement of government restrictions on tourism along with a 12-point directive limiting activities on the island.
Last year, about 20 turtles laid eggs on the island’s beaches. Officials collected 2,824 eggs from 14 nests. This year the number of nesting turtles rose to 61, roughly three times higher than the previous year.
The Department of Environment is implementing a project to collect turtle eggs and hatch them in controlled hatcheries. Two hatcheries were set up in the island’s central area at Golachipa Marine Park and Konarpara. Eleven volunteers led by local environmental activist Abdul Aziz are responsible for maintaining the hatcheries.
Aziz told that 5,022 eggs from 45 nests are currently preserved at the two hatcheries. The Olive Ridley turtles laid the eggs between Dec 6 and Feb 28. On Feb 25, 122 hatchlings emerged from eggs at one hatchery and were later released into the sea.
During the same period, 21 dead turtles were recovered from the island’s beaches. All showed signs of injuries and eggs were found in their bodies.
Many mother turtles die after becoming entangled in illegal fishing nets and trawler nets while travelling from the deep sea to the beach to lay eggs. When turtles become trapped, some fishermen beat them with sticks and throw the bodies back into the sea. The carcasses later drift ashore with the tide.
Environmental activist Abdul Aziz said the number of nesting turtles has been increasing compared with last year. Efforts are underway across the island to create safe nesting areas for turtles.
Former union parishad chairman of St Martin’s Island, Firoz Ahmed Khan and Nur Ahmed, told that 10 to 15 years ago three species of turtles used to nest on the island’s beaches. Their presence declined in recent years for various reasons. Now mainly Olive Ridley turtles come to lay eggs.
Last year 2,165 hatchlings were released into the sea from collected nests. This year the number could exceed 6,000.
Government initiatives to protect turtles
Deepak Sharma, president of the Cox’s Bazar Forest and Environment Conservation Council, said the government has taken several steps over the past two years to protect biodiversity on St Martin’s Island including limiting tourist numbers.
As a result, marine life such as shells, oysters and crabs is increasing along the beach. A green belt of coastal forest is also growing in the southern part of the island. Conditions suitable for sea turtles to lay eggs are gradually returning.
Although many dead turtles continue to wash ashore along the Cox’s Bazar coastline, the number is much lower around St Martin’s Island.
According to information from private organisations, 220 dead Olive Ridley turtles washed ashore at more than 50 locations along the Cox’s Bazar coast between Jan 1 and March 31. About 90 percent of them had injury marks and eggs in their bodies.
Mohammad Jamir Uddin, regional director of the Department of Environment in Chattogram, said the government is also working to ensure safe nesting conditions for turtles in Cox’s Bazar and on Sonadia Island in Maheshkhali.
Measures are being taken to prevent turtle eggs from being eaten by foxes, dogs monitor lizards and mongooses.
Sea turtles, often described as the cleaners of the Bay of Bengal, survive by feeding on sea grass weeds harmful jellyfish and floating debris. They help keep the ocean clean and maintain ecological balance.
To protect biodiversity on the 8-square-kilometre island, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change issued a gazette notification with 12 directives on Oct 22 last year.
According to the directive, St Martin’s Island remains closed for nine consecutive months from Feb 1 each year and opens for visitors for three months starting Nov 1. A maximum of 2,000 tourists can visit the island daily. Overnight stays are not allowed in November, but tourists can stay overnight during December and January.
Six vessels were allowed to operate to transport tourists this season.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, said 117,000 tourists visited St Martin’s Island in December and January, about 1,500 to 2,000 more than the previous year.
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Khandakar Mahmud Pasha, deputy director of the Department of Environment in Cox’s Bazar, said strict enforcement of government regulations and greater awareness among tourists are helping the island’s ecosystem recover. Biodiversity is gradually returning.
Tourist visits to the ecologically sensitive Chera Dwip were banned this season, which has also helped restore a safe environment for turtle nesting.
The Department of Environment first declared St Martin’s Island an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999. On Jan 4, 2023, the government also declared 1,743 square kilometres of the surrounding Bay of Bengal as a marine protected area under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act.
This article is republished from The Daily Prothom Alo.
