The Tamil Nadu government is considering an amendment to the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act and Rules to make turning off GPS transponders in fishing boats an offense. 

This proposal was one of the suggestions discussed by the Standing Committee of the State Board for Wildlife on Tuesday in Chennai, in response to the recent rise in sea turtle mortality. 

Led by Forests Minister K. Ponmudy, authorities decided that, in addition to enforcing Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and prohibiting mechanised boats from operating within five nautical miles, trawlers must be fitted with transponders. The Fisheries Department will be responsible for ensuring this, to help track the boats.

Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, the Minister said, “The high number of deaths of turtles in Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam calls for urgent attention. There is a need to raise awareness and create consciousness among local fishermen about turtle conservation. To address this, all relevant departments, including NGOs, fisheries, and forest services, must collaborate effectively. We have decided that these groups must work together to ensure the protection and conservation of turtles.”

Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden, were part of the meeting along with other officials and conservationists.

According to official data, 342 boats were charge-sheeted for operating illegally, and subsidies have been cut for 208 of them due to the absence of GPS transponders.

In the meeting, it was decided that long-term telemetry studies on the movement of turtles along the Tamil Nadu coast should be conducted to gather accurate scientific data on turtle migration and local movement patterns. The Forest Department plans to purchase its own boats for sea inspections, as they are currently relying on rented boats. Steps are being taken to facilitate this.

The Fisheries Department will be asked to explore the feasibility of conducting a pilot study on the effectiveness of nets equipped with specially designed LED lights to deter turtles. Additionally, a ban on ray fish nets will be enforced from November to April.

The government also plans to cut diesel subsidies and allowances for fishermen who do not install TEDs between November and April. All boats within five nautical miles will be tracked via GPS. The existing rule of turning off lights along the coast from October to February will be enforced strictly. Local bodies have been asked to manage waste disposal at eateries and control stray dog populations on beaches.

Since the first week of February, turtle deaths have decreased, and nesting activity is reported to have improved. As of February 10, a total of 11,286 eggs have been collected in the Chennai division. In comparison, by February 10, 2024, 15,493 eggs had been collected during the previous season.