Around 150 marine animals stranded on Karnataka beaches every year: Report
Hubballi: Karnataka’s coastline witnesses the stranding of around 150 marine animals annually, with nearly half of them found dead, according to data collected by Reefwatch, a non-governmental organisation working in collaboration with the forest departments of Karnataka and Goa.
The majority of the reported strandings involve Olive Ridley Sea Turtles along the Karnataka's 340 km coastline, the study found, as cited by Deccan Herald on Friday.
In the last six years, over 1,800 stranded marine animals, including sea turtles, pelagic birds, and cetaceans such as dolphins, whales, and porpoises, have been documented along the coasts of Karnataka and Goa. The relatively lower rate of reporting from Karnataka is attributed to its largely secluded beaches, but growing awareness and improved networks among local fishing communities have enabled better response from forest officials in recent years.
“Monsoon and the weeks preceding monsoons tend to have a high percentage of stranding due to entanglement in ghost fishing gear and drowning due to trawl nets. We have also recorded a number of plastic ingestion, parasites and infectious cases,” DH quoted Shantanu Kalambi, Marine Veterinary Specialist and Project Manager of Reefwatch, as saying.
Human activities remain a significant cause of marine animal distress. The discharge of untreated sewage into sea, accumulation of plastic waste, and unregulated fishing in restricted zones are among the major contributing factors to the stranding events.
In a recent case, the Karwar division reported the stranding of four turtles since May 24, all of which were entangled in ghost nets. Thanks to timely intervention, all four were rescued and released back into the sea.
“Over the years we have improved our information network and gained the trust of local fishermen, who have been informing us about the stranded animals. With the help of an NGO, our staff has been treating the injured animals and monitoring them. Once they are fit, the marine animals are released into the sea,” DH quoted Karwar Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) C Ravishankar, as saying.
Anthony Mariyappa, DCF Mangaluru, stated that with the introduction of species recovery programme on Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, the forest department has been able to take local fishermen into confidence and address the stranded species effectively.
However, challenges persist. Sources in the department reportedly mentioned that shortage of staff is hindering the conservation activities. Currently, the department veterinaries deputed from animal husbandry department, who have been dealing with mammals, and not with marine animals.
“We need at least one marine expert in each of the division so that rescue efforts could be sped up, today we have one veterinary doctor for three-four divisions,” DH quoted one of the senior officers as saying.
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Priyanka Gandhi urges Nitin Gadkari to expedite road projects in Kerala's Wayanad
Wayanad/New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said she met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking his intervention to expedite pending road infrastructure works in her constituency, including those aimed at addressing landslide issues at the Thamarassery pass.
Sharing photographs of the meeting on the social media platform 'X', Priyanka said Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, heard her concerns and sought updates from the relevant officials.
In her post, she expressed hope that the pressing issues she raised, which directly affect public safety and daily life, would receive the attention and urgency they deserve.
“Met respected Gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay. He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get updates from the relevant officers,” she said.
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“I sincerely hope these pressing issues, which directly affect people’s safety and daily lives, will receive the attention and urgency they deserve,” she added.
A day earlier, Priyanka had sought an appointment with Gadkari in Parliament, saying she had been seeking an opportunity since June to discuss issues related to her constituency.
Responding to her request, the minister had said his doors were always open and that she could meet him at any time.
She subsequently met him at his office later the same day.
Met respected Shri @nitin_gadkari to raise issues concerning my constituency, Wayanad, and urged that pending works be expedited without further delay.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 19, 2025
He was kind enough to hear my concerns and get an update from the relevant officers.
I sincerely hope these pressing issues… pic.twitter.com/UkxnXP6gxn
