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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
_vb_59.jpeg)
