Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2024 | 16(12): 26213–26224
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online)
| ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9194.16.12.26213-26224
#9194 | Received 07 June
2024 | Final received 19 September 2024 | Finally accepted 14 November 2024
Conservation of sea
turtles on the beach areas from Sonadia Island to Saint
Martin’s Island in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh
M. Farid Ahsan 1,
Shital Kumar Nath 2 & Ashim Barua 3
1 Department of
Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
2,3 Community
Development Centre (CODEC), CODEC Bhaban, Plot 02, Road 02, Lake Valley
Residential Area, Foy’s Lake, Khulshi, Chattogram 4202, Bangladesh.
1 faridahsan55@yahoo.com
(corresponding author), 2 smati71@yahoo.com, 3 ashimbarua_70@yahoo.com
Editor: S.R. Ganesh, Kalinga Foundation, Agumbe, India. Date of publication: 26 December
2024 (online & print)
Citation: Ahsan, M.F., S.K. Nath & A. Barua (2024). Conservation of sea turtles on the beach
areas from Sonadia Island to Saint Martin’s Island in
the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. Journal of Threatened
Taxa 16(12): 26213–26224. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9194.16.12.26213-26224
Copyright: © Ahsan et al. 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: USAID-funded and CODEC-implemented Nature and Life Project.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details & Author contributions: Dr. M. Farid Ahsan is a super numerary professor, Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh. He is involved in teaching and research especially on wildlife in the said department since 1982. Research methodology, manuscript draft, finalized it and editing in the present form. Dr. Shital Kumar Nath is the project director of a USAID-funded and CODEC-implemented Nature and Life Project. He received a PhD (Zoology) from the University of Dhaka, an EMBA (marketing) from the Southern University Bangladesh, and an MSc (Zoology) from the University of Chittagong. His fields of focus are biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, community-based NRM, and nature-based solutions. Ashim Barua, completed his MSc in Botany from the University of Chittagong in 1997. He is currently working as a natural resource management manager in the Nature and Life Project implemented by the non-government organization CODEC (Community Development
Centre) with the financial support from USAID. The author has been working as an expertise in species conservation, field-level natural resource management, research, and technology extension since 1998.
Acknowledgements: We gratefully
acknowledge the cooperation, help and support of the field staff of CODEC. We
are also thankful to the NGOs who provided us with some information/papers.
Abstract: Five species of sea
turtle are known to nest on the coastal beaches of Bangladesh: Loggerhead Sea
Turtle Caretta caretta,
Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas,
Hawksbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys
olivacea, and Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea.
Olive Ridleys are more common than Green Turtles, and
the others are very rare. Sea turtle hatcheries were visited on the Bay of
Bengal beaches running from Sonadia Island to the
Saint Martin’s Island Beaches of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, from January to
March 2022. During this period 22 hatcheries were found operating in the field,
of which 11 were maintained by Marine Life Alliance, eight by NACOM (Nature
Conservation Management) and two by CODEC (Community Development Centre); one
was anonymous. Only Olive Ridley Turtles nesting was recorded during 2021–22.
CODEC recorded 26 nests and collected 2,943 eggs for hatcheries, which released
1,612 healthy hatchings into the Bay of Bengal. The clutch size was 21–165
(average 103, n = 26), and the incubation period was 45–75 days (average 53
days, n = 1,612). The higher air temperature from March to May hastened the hatching
process. NGOs are working on conservation aspects of the sea turtles, mostly by
collecting eggs and releasing hatchlings into the Bay of Bengal. They have also
prepared booklets and posters, hoisted banners, published papers, and organised seminars, rallies and workshops for education and
awareness of the local people. These initiatives are encouraging, but it may be
better if the efforts of NGOs to support sea turtle conservation were more
integrated.
Keywords: Awareness, coastal
beaches, distribution, education workshop, hatcheries, marine turtles, Olive
Ridley Turtle, releasing hatchlings, status.
INTRODUCTION
Sea
turtles are an important part of the planetary food web, and they have played a
vital role in maintaining the health of the world’s oceans for more than 100
million years (Wilson et al. 2010). Bangladesh’s coastal waters and beaches
support turtles and provide suitable habitats for egg laying and hatchlings.
Five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles lay their eggs on the coastal beaches
of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, extending from the Sundarbans to Saint
Martin’s Island, and including some old and newly-emerged coastal islands.
Literature
review suggests that works on sea turtles in Bangladesh are inadequate, but
records on egg laying, maintaining hatcheries and releasing hatchings are quite
extensive and go back more than four decades. The listing of five species known
to occur in Bangladesh territory of the Bay of Bengal was reported by Khan
(1982a,b, 1987, 2010, 2015), Khan (2008, 2018), Shafi & Quddus (1976, 1982),
and Sarker & Sarker
(1988).
Ahmed
et al. (1986) first reported the egg-laying activities of Olive Ridley Sea
Turtle from Saint Martin’s Island. Later, the Ministry of Environment and
Forests (now called Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) made
hatcheries on Saint Martin’s Island and reported nesting records of sea turtles
from 1996–2002, and hatchery success from 2000–01 to 2001–02 (CWBMP 2008). The
Centre for Advanced Research in Natural Resources & Management (CARINAM)
NGO started working on sea turtles in 1996 and then in 2000–2005, maintained
hatcheries and released hatchings in the Bay of Bengal. The Center for Natural
Resource Studies (CNRS) did the same work as CARINAM possibly for a few years
from 1997.
The
CWBMP (Coastal and Wetland Biodiversity Management Project) under the DoE
(Department of Environment) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests started
monitoring, conservation programmes and networking in
the three Cox’s Bazar ECAs (Ecologically Critical Area), viz., the Saint
Martin’s Island (now it is a Marine Protected Area), the Sonadia
Island ECA and Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Peninsula ECA
during November 2005 to January 2008; it maintained sea turtle hatcheries (in Sonadia East, Sonadia West, Pechardwip, Khurermukh, Bodormokam, and the St. Martin’s Island beaches) and
released hatchlings in the Bay of Bengal (CWBMP 2008). It also created public
awareness, information, education, and training of stakeholders for conserving
sea turtles.
NACOM
has been managing sea turtle hatcheries since 2007, and Isabela Foundation did
it during 2017–18 (Isabela Foundation 2018). Recently (2021–2022) CODEC
(Community Development Centre) is working on the hatcheries as a pilot project
on an experimental basis. Unlike other NGOs, the Marine Life Alliance has been
mostly working on sea turtles, maintaining hatcheries, and releasing hatchlings
in the Bay of Bengal since 1997. It also did a radio-tracking experiment on the
Olive Ridley Turtles. The prime goal of all NGOs is the same to maintain
hatcheries, hatch the eggs of sea turtles and release the hatchlings in the Bay
of Bengal, and create conservation awareness.
According
to local elders, about 30 years ago turtle nesting was quite common on most of
the beach areas of the Saint Martin’s Island. Nests remained unexploited
in-situ due to high nesting frequency, and sightings of hatchling emergence
were common (Islam 2002).
Status
and distribution of Sea Turtles in Bangladesh
Globally,
the IUCN lists Hawksbill Turtle as Critically Endangered, and Loggerhead,
Green, Leatherback and Olive Ridley Turtles as Endangered (IUCN Bangladesh
2000). The Red list categories were assessed for these five species by IUCN
Bangladesh (2015) as Critically Endangered (Green, Leatherback and Hawksbill
Turtles), Vulnerable (Olive Ridley Turtle) and Data Deficient (Loggerhead
Turtle).
1.
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta): There are two records of
the occurrence of this species in Bangladesh. One female laid eggs at Saint Martin’s Island (Bhuiyan et al. 1985) and
another was a stranded dead specimen found at Kassopia
Island under Hatiya Upazila
of Noakhali District in January 1995 (Khan 1996). The nearest egg-laying site
of this species is the islands of Myanmar (Thorbjarnarson
et al. 2000) east of the Saint Martin’s Island. It should be noted that Olive Ridleys and Loggerheads are commonly misidentified (Frazier
1985).
2.
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas):
Green Turtles are less widespread than Olive Ridleys
and their nesting records are reported from Inani to Teknaf mainland beaches, Shahporir
Dip, Saint Martin’s, Sonadia, Kutubdia,
Hatiya, and Swandip Islands
between 1984 and 1994 are either rare or absent in the Sundarbans coastal
beaches (cf. Rashid & Islam 2006). On several occasions, young individuals
were seen from the research vessel of the Marine Fisheries Research Institute
in the shallow continental shelf in south-central Bangladesh (F. Alam pers. comm. 1995 in Rashid & Islam 2006). Adult
sea turtles are also trapped in fishing nets mostly during winter
(December–January) which is the peak nesting period.
3.
Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): Literature search
indicates that there is no evidence of Leatherback nesting in Bangladesh (Mitra 1914). However, one adult stranded dead individual
was washed up after a storm on the Saint Martin’s Island’s beach on 11 April
1997 (Rashid & Islam 1999). Live individuals were caught in fishing gears
in and around Sonadia Island and the emergence of one
turtle on Saint Martin’s Island was recorded in April 2001 (Islam 2002). One
Leatherback Turtle (carapace length 152.4 cm, height 91.44 cm and weight 95 kg)
was caught in the fishing net of local fishers in the Bakkhali
River (Moheshkhali channel) on 14 July 2005 (Haroon
& Rahman 2006).
4.
Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata): This is a rare visitor
on the beaches of Bangladesh and was a regular visitor on the beaches of Saint
Martin’s Island (A. Kasem pers. comm. in Rashid &
Islam 2006). One female nested and laid 56 eggs in January 1992 (Rashid 1997;
Rashid & Islam 2006). An immature turtle was trapped in a fishing net in
the northwestern waters of the Saint Martin’s Island on 13 November 1996
(Rashid & Islam 2006). Three turtles nested on the beach of the Saint
Martin’s Island during 1998–99 (Islam 2002). In December 1997, January 2000 and
January–March 2001, stuffed subadult specimens of Hawksbill Turtle were on sale
at curio shops in Cox’s Bazar and at least six specimens of sea turtles were
sold in 2001 (Islam 2001).
5.
Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea): Olive Ridley Turtles are
the common nesters on the sandy beaches along the mainland coasts of Bangladesh
from the Sundarbans to the Saint Martin’s Island and also to the newly emerged
coastal islands’ beaches where human interference is low or absent. Besides
those, other nesting beaches are Mandarbaria, Dubla, Egg, and Putney Islands in the Sundarbans; Swandip, Hatiya, Nijhumdip, Kutubdia, and Moheshkhali Islands, and Bhola Islands. Of all the nesting
grounds of Olive Ridley Turtles in Bangladesh, the Sonadia
and Saint Martin’s Islands are the best known to all.
The
major objectives of this work were to:
identify
the available turtle species that come to lay eggs on the beach areas from the Sonadia Island to the Saint Martin’s Island;
figure
out the total number of turtle hatcheries (Government, INGO, NGO, Private
Research Organization) are found in the beach areas from the Sonadia Island to the Saint Martin’s Island;
quantify
the total species-wise hatchlings found in the last 5 years;
identify
the existing problems/obstacles for the turtle nesting/hatching and
conservation in the
beach area; and
provide
possible suggestions for ex-situ and in-situ conservation.
METHODS
We
(MFA), consultant; SKN, project director, Nature and Life Project; and the
research assistant, Mr. Omar Shahdat) visited the
beach areas from Inani to the Saint Martin’s Island
via the Sonadia Island to find out any signs and
symptoms of laying eggs by the sea turtles during January to March 2022. We mostly
worked during the day and we did not see any recent turtle crawling signs for
egg-laying. We visited all turtle hatcheries in the study area and took their
photographs. The result of one hatchery that was maintained by CODEC from
January to May 2021 has also been incorporated into this study.
We
tried to make personal contact with different NGOs to have recent (last decade)
data on the sea turtle hatcheries, but it was not available to us. Problems and
obstacles faced in running turtle hatcheries were pin pointed. All available
published and unpublished reports on the sea turtles in Bangladesh found online
were consulted and relevant information incorporated in this report. Based on
field visits and my (MFA) long experience (42 years) working on wildlife in
this country, threats to sea turtles on the nesting beaches and coastal waters
were identified and suggested possible recommendations for in-situ and ex-situ
conservation measures.
Incubation
days have been compiled on monthly basis to show the relationship with monthly
weather data and then correlation analysis has been done and regression lines
have been prepared.
RESULTS
During
our pilot survey period (January–March 2022), we found 22 hatcheries on the
Saint Martin’s Island to Inani Beach via the Sonadia Island, of which eight hatcheries belonged to NACOM
(including one in-situ nest), 11 owned by Marine Life Alliance, two managed by
CODEC (of which one was also maintained during January–May 2021) and owner of
one was unknown (Image 1, Table 1, Figure 1).
Bamboo
lattice fences have been used to build hatcheries in seven cases, nylon thread
(medium or thin) nets used in five, four each hatcheries
have aluminum and plastic wire nets, and in two cases both plastic wire nets
and nylon thread net have been used. All these hatcheries used bamboo poles for
supporting the fences. In one case, it is an in-situ nest nearly circular in
shape (1.5 m radius with 1 m height), where a thin nylon net is used as a fence
supported by poles of tree branches. The size of the hatchery ranges (length x
width x height) from 4 x 3 x 1 to 28 x 21 x 1.5 m3 (average 7.4 x
5.4 x1.5 m3). The hatcheries are placed at 10–300 m far from the
high tide water mark depending on the beach condition, except for the Shahporir Dip hatchery. This is because in Shahporir Dip, the sandy beach area is restricted by Border
Guard Bangladesh. The suitable habitat is not found near the sea beach. Hence,
they have selected a safe place for turtle hatchery about 900 m far from the
beach.
During
the study period, eggs from 26 nests of Olive Ridley Turtles were transferred
into the CODEC hatcheries and the collected eggs of each nest were put into egg
pits made artificially, similar to natural nests (Table 2). The clutch size of
eggs laid by each female Olive Ridley Turtle was 21–165 (average 103, n = 26).
The incubation period was 45–75 days (average 53 days, n = 1,612 eggs). The
eggs hatched in January took a higher incubation period and subsequently the
period went down and it was the lowest in May. This is
because of air temperature that means in higher temperatures the incubation
period was less than the lower temperature (Table 3, Figures 2–7). The
correlation and regression of incubation period (in days) data with the weather
data (monthly mean air temperature, relative humidity and total rainfall) have
been calculated. The results show high significance between monthly incubation
days and monthly total rainfall in 2022 (r = 0.999, df
= 1, P <0.001) and the others have moderate degrees of significance (r =
0.560 to 0.957, df = 1, P >0.05) because of meagre
data (three months). It should be mentioned here that at least five sets of
data are required for showing good correlation and regression statistics.
In
total 2,943 eggs of 26 gravid females Olive Ridley Sea Turtles were conserved
in the hatcheries of CODEC, of which 1,346 eggs were from 12 females at Hazom Para Hatchery and 1,597 eggs from 14 females at Shilkhali Hatchery (Table 2). Overall, 1,612 (i.e., 54.77%)
healthy hatchlings were released into the Bay of Bengal, of which 839 (i.e.,
52.05%) were from Hazom Para Hatchery and 773 (i.e.,
47.95%) from the Shilkhali Hatchery (Table 2).
Threats
to Nesting Beaches
The
following inland threats to marine turtles in Bangladesh were identified through
interviewing local people, hatchery caretakers, and from our own experiences:
disorientation
caused by flashing lights on the beachside and man-made obstructions on the
nesting beaches, particularly on the Saint Martin’s Island and also other
beaches along the Marine Drive Road, and some beach areas where hotels, motels,
and rest houses have been established, and have crowded visitors;
nest
and hatchling predation by feral dogs and natural predators such as jackals,
mongooses, monitor lizards, and predatory birds;
physical
alteration of beach infrastructure, e.g., Marine Drive Road has engulfed some
areas of the long beach and created connectivity roads, making access to people
that creates crowed and disturbed the ideal situation of the beach;
an
unusual increase in number of vehicles on Marine Drive Road, flashing lights
and blowing of horns that disturb nesting facilities of the sea turtles in the
beach areas;
turtles
getting entangled in fishing net; fishermen kill turtles when entangled in
their nets, and use of beaches for drying fish and mending fishing nets;
encloser
nets (‘gher-jal’) prevent gravid females from
reaching the beach, and/or they get entangled in the net;
increased
mechanized boats disturbing gravid females from reaching the beaches;
boats
anchored on the inter-tidal zone as well as in the water use flashlights which
create barriers for nesting of the sea turtles as well as prevent gravid
females to come onto the beach;
beach
seine fishing either kills or obstructs the movement of turtles;
disturbances
during shrimp-fry collection;
alteration
of the nesting beaches by the Jhao (Casuarina equisitifolia) plantation and new plantations have
destroyed some nesting ground of the turtles. Bangladesh Forest Department
plants Jhao trees there because newly emerged beach
areas will be occupied by the people for their own purpose;
egg
poaching, earlier 90–95% of nests were exploited by humans- but now it is at a
minimum;
flooding
nests by the high tide; tidal waves and cyclones flood the egg laying areas and
consequently eggs are damaged;
nest
losses due to beach erosion is not so significant;
flashing
light on the beach and human (tourists) presence, especially on the Saint
Martin’s Island and other areas; and
often
poaching of eggs by the miscreants.
Conservation
measures taken
The
following initiatives have been taken by the Government of Bangladesh, and NGOs
and international organisations for the conservation
and management of sea turtles (Table 6).
So
far, data could be collected from different sources on the conservation of eggs
of turtles and hatching them into the hatcheries and releasing the hatchlings
into the Bay of Bengal have jotted in Table 7.
DISCUSSION
The
reasons for the lower rate of healthy hatchlings were due to: (i) 138 eggs were rescued from the miscreants and conserved
at Hazom Para Hatchery did not hatch; (ii) the
egg-laying date of these 138 eggs was unknown and was not preserved properly,
that is why, not a single egg hatched; (iii) on the other hand, miscreants destroyed
many eggs of seven clutches at Shilkhali Hatchery;
and (iv) consequently and in addition, some dead and deformed hatchlings
emerged in both hatcheries.
During
1996–98, 29 sea turtles (both sexes and subadults) were found dead on the beach
of Saint Martin’s Island, of which 19 individuals died due to fishing as
suspected (Islam 2002). In 2000–01, more than 51 dead Olive Ridley Turtles were
washed ashore (Islam 2002). The south and south-west offshore zones from the
Saint Martin’s Island are in deep sea, and these are mainly foraging zone of
sea turtles and are also used by large mechanized fishing boats. So, dead
turtles float for some days and are finally washed ashore on the beaches of the
Saint Martin’s and other coasts of Bangladesh (Islam et al. 1999).
According
to local elders, nesting was common on most of the beaches 10–15 years ago.
Rashid (1986) recorded 35 Green Turtles in one-night nesting on one beach. A
maximum of seven Olive Ridley females were observed nesting in a single
night in this study.
Although
there are no records of Loggerheads nesting on the Saint Martin’s Island,
it is possible that they nested on the island in years past (Rashid & Islam
2006).
A
total of 27 adult and sub-adult turtles of both sexes were found dead on the beaches
during 1996-98, more than half of which were believed to be caused by fishing
activities. More than 54 dead adult and sub-adult turtles washed ashore during
the 2000–01 season. In 1996 the Marine Fisheries Research Institute (MFRI)
conducted fishing-related sea turtle mortality and reported that turtle deaths
were not significant (Rashid 1997). However, that report probably
underestimated the potential impact of fishing, as turtles continue to be found
dead along the shoreline.
Since
1996, success has been gained through several awareness programmes,
which have helped some of the traditional fishermen view sea turtles as
friendly animals instead of being harmful to their fishing activity.
Nevertheless, more work is needed, as most entangled turtles are still found
dead. In addition, in Bangladesh TEDs (Turtle excluder devices) are not used on
shrimping boats and the government is taking no initiative to impose any
regulations regarding TED use. Another important factor is the submersion time
and the depth at which other types of nets are set, which can affect turtle
mortality.
Observations
of 10 persons including one local from 1984 to 2003 on sea turtle nesting
places were reported by Rashid & Islam (2006) from 14 different spots of
Bangladesh, of which Olive Ridleys nested in 13
spots, Green Turtles in seven spots and Hawksbills in one spot (the Saint
Martin’s Island). They recorded 287 Olive Ridley Turtle nests (including 204 at
the St. Martin’s Island in 1996–97), 31 Green Turtles and one Hawksbill Turtle
were reported by locals from the St. Martin’s Island plus egg-shells were seen
in Egg Island and Mandarbaria of the Sundarbans
(Table 4).
From
October 1996 to February 2003 (Rashid & Islam 2006), 77 turtles were
affected by various human activities on the Saint Martin’s Island, of which
dogs (as first brought by the human on the Island) were the highest disturbing
animals (predated eggs and destroyed nests), the second highest was
unsuccessful nesting due to rocks and the third highest was unsuccessful
nesting due to tourist disturbances (Table 5).
Furthermore,
with the increase of local and international tourists in recent years
especially on the Saint Martin’s Island, the Bangladesh Parjaton
Corporation (National Tourism Authority) started building hotels, motels, and
other recreation centres in many areas along the
coast, Inani and Cox’s Bazar in particular. Some
private enterprises including locals have constructed motels in the areas,
which are identified as sea turtles’ nesting beaches (Inani
and the Saint Martin’s Island), which is a clear violation of the country’s
law.
Increased
fishing boats have increased oil spills, pollution and disposal of solid
domestic and machinery wastes. The beaches are being used for drying fish and
mending fishing nets during sea turtles’ nesting period.
Increased
human activities and beach lighting (especially on the Saint Martin’s Island)
have also increased that disturb nesting females and disorienting hatchlings.
The Bangladesh Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change is the sole authority for the protection, conservation, and
management of all wildlife in the country.
Different
NGOs are working on conservation aspects of the sea turtles and mostly
collecting eggs and hatching them into their hatcheries and releasing them into
the Bay of Bengal. They have also printed booklets and posters; hoisted
festoons and banners; published a few papers; organised
seminars, rallies and workshops for education and awareness of local people.
These actions are encouraging, but it would be better if all these works on sea
turtles in the country were integrated.
Very
recently (in 2024), one threat has come for the mother turtles of our beaches,
which was injuries caused by the propellor of the cruise
ship ferrying tourists from Inani to Saint Martin
Island during the winter season.
CONCLUSION
Marine
turtles face population decline in many places of the world and its population
is severely depleted in Bangladesh due to various anthropogenic threats.
Reports of all organizations working on sea turtles are submitting reports to
the respective donors are not accessible and open access. Community-based
conservation would be the best idea for conserving these unique creatures of
the oceanic planet. It would be better if all works on the sea turtles were
integrated.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The
following recommendations have been suggested for the conservation of sea
turtles in Bangladesh:
Take meaningful steps to save sea
turtle nesting beaches from human interference.
Awareness building, education,
research on population biology, conservation of nests and nest-building beach
areas.
Ecological Critical Area Rules
2016 and Protected Area Management Rules 2017, and regulations should properly
be implemented.
Community-based conservation
would be the best way to save these unique creatures of the oceanic planet.
As fishermen are responsible for
the death of sea turtles, so using TED in fishing boats can be an effective
tool for reducing the mortality of turtles.
The number of hatcheries should
be established like 1-Hatchery/2 km of the sandy beach.
Hatchery management should be
improved scientifically; and if all works on sea turtles were integrated this
could bring better outcomes.
Table 1. List of
hatcheries found from Saint Martin’s to Inani during
March–May 2022.
|
Hatchery operating
Org. |
Address of the
Hatcheries and Hatcheries belong to |
GPS (N, E) |
Total |
|
Marine Life
Alliance |
4. Hafiz Chara, 1 no. Ward, Teknaf UP, Teknaf* |
20.887, 92.245 |
11 |
|
5. Matha
Bhanga Beach, Baharchara,
Teknaf |
20.988, 92.194 |
||
|
7. Halbunia, Shilkhali, Baharchara, Teknaf |
21.025, 92.177 |
||
|
9. Choukidar Para, Shilkhali, Baharchara, Teknaf |
21.043, 92.162 |
||
|
11. Shamlapur Beach, Shilkhali, Teknaf |
21.075, 92.134 |
||
|
12. Supportkhali, Ukhiya |
21.103, 92.112 |
||
|
14. Soyankhali, Ukhiya |
21.131, 92.086 |
||
|
15. Imamer Dail, Ukhiya |
21.140, 92.079 |
||
|
16. Patuatek, Inani, Ukhiya |
21.174, 92.053 |
||
|
18. Pencherdip, Himchari, Cox’s
Bazar |
21.324, 92.032 |
||
|
22. Sonadia Poshchimpara, Moheshkhali |
21.501, 91.865 |
||
|
Nature Conservation
Management (NACOM) |
1. Marine Park, Golachipa, Saint Martin’s, Teknaf |
20.617, 92.325 |
8 |
|
2. Shilboniar Ghula Beach, Uttarpara, Saint Martin’s, Teknaf |
20.607, 92.326 |
||
|
3. Majerpara Primary School, Sha-porir
Dip, Teknaf |
20.764, 92.324 |
||
|
8. Bainnapara, Shilkhali, Baharchara, Teknaf |
21.030, 92.173 |
||
|
17. Pencherdip, Himchari, Cox’s
Bazar (In-situ) |
21.326, 92.031 |
||
|
19. Pencherd-p, Himchari, Cox’s
Bazar |
21.322, 92.032 |
||
|
20. Sonadia Purbopara, Moheshkhali |
21.479, 91.890 |
||
|
21. Sonadia Poshchimpara, Moheshkhali |
21.500, 91.867 |
||
|
CODEC |
6. Hazom Para, Shilkhali, Baharchara, Teknaf |
21.001, 92.190 |
2 |
|
10. Uttar Skhilkhali, Baharchara, Teknaf |
21.051, 92.154 |
||
|
Unknown |
13. Motherbunia, Baharchara, Teknaf |
21.108, 92.105 |
1 |
* Serial number of
hatcheries was made from Saint Martin’s Island to Inani.
Table 2. Hatchery of
CODEC pilot project in Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh during 2021–2022.
A. Hazom Para, Baharchara, Teknaf
|
Egg collection date |
Egg collection time |
No. of eggs |
No. of nests |
No. of egg pits in
the hatchery |
Hatching date |
Incubation days
(no. of hatchlings) |
No. of healthy
hatchlings |
No. of dead/ deformed hatchlings
|
Healthy hatchling rate (%) |
Remarks |
|
13.01.21 |
2.20 am |
142 |
1 |
7 |
23.03.21–29.03.21 |
69 (09), 70 (10),
71 (05), 73 (14), 74 (08), 75 (11) |
57 |
85 |
40.14 |
Cold tempera-ture |
|
28.01.21 |
8.00 pm |
21 |
1 |
1 |
01.04.21 |
63 (03) |
03 |
18 |
14.29 |
-do- |
|
11.03.21 |
3.30 am |
105 |
1 |
6 |
12.05.21 |
62 (77) |
77 |
28 |
73.33 |
|
|
11.03.21 |
9.00 pm |
90 |
1 |
4 |
12.05.21 |
62 (68) |
68 |
22 |
75.56 |
|
|
13.03.21 |
3.40 am |
149 |
1 |
6 |
12.05.21-15.05.21 |
60 (86), 63 (28) |
114 |
35 |
76.51 |
|
|
13.03.21 |
9.00 pm |
32 |
1 |
1 |
16.05.21 |
64 (25) |
25 |
07 |
78 |
|
|
Sub-total |
539 |
6 |
25 |
|
|
344 |
195 |
43.31 |
|
|
|
14.11.21 |
11.20 pm |
132 |
1 |
5 |
05.01.22–08.01.22 |
52 (01), 52 (02),
55 (34) |
37 |
95 |
28.03 |
Cold tempera-ture |
|
20.02.22 |
02.00 am |
149 |
1 |
6 |
13.04.22–22.04.22 |
54 (05), 54 (09),
55 (78), 58 (01), 63 (26) |
119 |
30 |
79.86 |
|
|
25.02.22 |
02.00 am |
138 |
1 |
5 |
- |
00 |
00 |
138 |
00 |
Escaped eggs from
the miscreants. How many days ago the eggs were collected was not known. |
|
03.03.22 |
04.00 pm |
143 |
1 |
6 |
22.04.22 –24.04.22 |
49 (11), 50 (80) 51
(28) |
119 |
24 |
83.21 |
|
|
04.03.22 |
3.40 am |
111 |
1 |
4 |
24.04.22–27.04.22 |
50 (62), 51 (16),
53 (20) |
98 |
13 |
88.28 |
|
|
09.03.22 |
02.30 am |
134 |
1 |
6 |
27.04.22 |
48 (122) |
122 |
12 |
91.04 |
|
|
Sub-total |
807 |
6 |
32 |
- |
- |
495 |
312 |
- |
|
|
|
Total |
1346 |
12 |
57 |
- |
- |
839 |
507 |
62.33 |
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
56.55 + 6.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
B. Uttar Shilkhali, Baharchara, Teknaf
|
Egg collection date |
Egg collection time |
No. of eggs |
No. of nests |
No. of egg pits in
the hatchery |
Hatching date |
Incubation days
(no. of hatchlings) |
Total no. of
healthy hatchlings |
No. of dead/ deformed hatchlings
|
Healthy hatchling rate (%) |
Remarks |
|
29.01.22 |
08:00 pm |
124 |
1 |
5 |
07.04.22–13.04.22 |
68 (24), 71 (14),
73 (07), 74 (28) |
73 |
51 |
58.87 |
Miscreants
destroyed eggs in the hatchery. |
|
18.02.22 |
02.30 am |
121 |
1 |
5 |
13.04.22 |
56 (50) |
50 |
71 |
41.32 |
-do- |
|
21.02.22 |
01.00 am |
107 |
1 |
4 |
15.04.22 |
54 (39), |
39 |
68 |
36.44 |
-do- |
|
21.02.22 |
08:00 pm |
102 |
1 |
4 |
15.04.22–20.04.22 |
54 (22), 59 (11) |
33 |
69 |
32.35 |
-do- |
|
04.03.22 |
11.00 pm |
141 |
1 |
6 |
21.04.22–23.04.22 |
47 (18), 48 (14),
49 (17) |
49 |
92 |
34.75 |
-do- |
|
05.03.22 |
9:30 pm |
105 |
1 |
4 |
24.04.22–25.04.22 |
49 (31), 50 (16), |
47 |
58 |
44.76 |
-do- |
|
05.03.22 |
11:40 pm |
131 |
1 |
5 |
26.04.22–27.04.22 |
51 (20), 52 (25) |
45 |
86 |
34.35 |
-do- |
|
26.03.22 |
03.00 am |
107 |
1 |
4 |
11.05.22 |
45 (60) |
60 |
47 |
56.07 |
|
|
26.03.22 |
03.20 am |
85 |
1 |
3 |
11.05.22 |
45 (48) |
48 |
37 |
56.47 |
|
|
26.03.22 |
04.00 am |
92 |
1 |
4 |
11.05.22 |
45 (52) |
52 |
40 |
56.52 |
|
|
26.03.22 |
05.15 am |
81 |
1 |
4 |
11.05.22 |
45 (46) |
46 |
35 |
56.79 |
|
|
26.03.22 |
06:00 am |
165 |
1 |
6 |
11.05.22 |
45 (94) |
94 |
71 |
56.96 |
|
|
27.03.22 |
04:30 am |
108 |
1 |
4 |
11.05.22 |
45 (50) |
50 |
58 |
46.29 |
|
|
27.03.22 |
04:30 am |
128 |
1 |
5 |
12.05.22 |
45 (87) |
87 |
41 |
67.96 |
|
|
Total |
1597 |
14 |
64 |
|
|
773 |
824 |
48.40 |
|
|
|
Grand Total |
2943 |
26 |
96 |
|
|
1612 |
1331 |
54.77 |
|
|
Table 3. Weather Data
from Teknaf Weather Station, Cox’ Bazar and
incubation days of eggs (- = No data)
Incubation data plus
weather data of 2022.
|
Month |
Mini Temp |
Maxi Temp |
Average Temp |
Mini RH |
Maxi RH |
Average RH |
Total Rainfall |
Incubation Days |
|
Jan ‘22 |
14.77 |
28.22 |
21.50 |
43 |
91 |
67.0 |
07 |
54.8 |
|
Feb |
16.14 |
29.89 |
23.02 |
56 |
87 |
71.5 |
12 |
- |
|
Mar |
21.26 |
33.27 |
27.27 |
44 |
85 |
64.5 |
00 |
- |
|
Apr |
25.60 |
33.53 |
29.57 |
61 |
93 |
77.0 |
43 |
53.5 |
|
May |
25.70 |
33.30 |
29.50 |
69 |
95 |
82.0 |
260 |
45.0 |
Incubation data plus
weather data of 2021
|
Month |
Mini Temp |
Maxi Temp |
Average Temp |
Mini RH |
Maxi RH |
Average RH |
Total Rainfall |
Incubation Days |
|
Mar |
21.47 |
32.33 |
26.90 |
58 |
89 |
73.5 |
00 |
72.2 |
|
Apr |
24.00 |
33.65 |
28.83 |
61 |
89 |
75.0 |
12 |
63.0 |
|
May |
26.34 |
34.18 |
30.26 |
62 |
90 |
76 |
55 |
61.7 |
Table 4. Number of
sea turtles that laid eggs during 1996–2003 and 2005–2010 on Bangladesh
beaches*.
|
Year |
Olive Ridley Turtle |
Green Turtle |
Hawksbill Turtle |
Leatherback Turtle |
|
1984–941 |
287** |
31 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1996–97 |
83 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
1997–98 |
124 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
1998–991 |
47 |
9 |
3 |
0 |
|
1999–2000 |
86 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
2000–01 |
137 |
4 |
0 |
1 (?) |
|
2001–02 |
73 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
2002–03 |
85 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Subtotal |
635 |
53 |
3 |
1 (?) |
|
2005–06 |
155 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
2006–07 |
142 |
1 |
- |
- |
|
2007–08 |
162 |
3 |
- |
- |
|
2008–09 |
151 |
3 |
- |
- |
|
2009–10 |
158 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
Subtotal |
768 |
10 |
- |
- |
|
Total |
1,403 |
63 |
3 |
1 (?) |
* Sources: Islam
2002, MoEF No date, CWBMP 2008, Islam et al. 2011,
NACOM 2010. 1 Rashid & Islam 2006, ** including 204 from Saint
Martin’s Island in 1996- 97, excluded from the total.
Table
5. Number of marine turtles affected by various human activities at the Saint
Martin’s Island from October 1996 to February 2003*.
|
Nature of
Threats/Disturbances |
Number of turtles |
|
1. Predation by
dogs |
20 |
|
2. Nests destroyed
by dogs |
7 |
|
3. Unsuccessful
nesting due to rocks |
18 |
|
4. Females with
flippers cut |
9 |
|
5. Unsuccessful due
to tourist disturbances |
13 |
|
6. Females with
injury on the carapace |
8 |
|
7. Females with tumours on flippers |
2 |
|
Total |
77 |
Table 6. Initiatives
taken for the conservation and management of sea turtles*.
|
Organization |
Major activities |
|
Government |
1. Declaration of
Ecologically Critical Areas |
|
of Bangladesh |
2. Sustainable
resource management |
|
|
3. Establishment of
ecotourism in that area |
|
Non-Government Organizations
(NGOs) and International Organization |
1. School education
programme |
|
2. Community
awareness programme |
|
|
3. Hatchery
management |
|
|
4. Establishment of
education and research center |
|
|
5. Establishment of
hatcheries |
|
|
6. Supporting
ecotourism activity |
|
|
7. Ex-situ
conservation through hatcheries |
|
|
8. Encouraging
fishermen to use TEDs in gear |
* Source: Hossain et
al. 2013.
Table 7. Eggs
conserved, and hatchlings released between 2000–2022.
|
Year |
Egg conserved |
Hatchling released |
Sources |
|
2000–01 |
3,850 |
2,700 |
MoEF (No date) |
|
2001–02 |
7,600 |
5,680 |
MoEF (No date) |
|
Total |
11,450 |
8,380 |
|
|
2007–2010 |
28,642 |
26,408 |
NACOM et al. (2010) |
|
2021–22 |
2,943 |
1,612 |
CODEC (This study) |
|
Grand Total |
43,035 |
36,400 |
|
For
image & figures - - click here for full PDF
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