MORTALITY OF OLIVE RIDLEY TURTLES LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA DUE TO INCIDENTAL CAPTURE IN FISHING NETS ALONG THE ORISSA COAST, INDIA

The coastal state of Orissa, India, harbours three important mass-nest ing beaches of the olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. Duri ng a survey of sea turtle nesting beaches from December 1993 to May 19 94, 5282 dead olive ridleys were counted along the 480 km coastline of Orissa. Almost all the deaths were due to incidental capture in offsh ore fishing nets. Increased fishing activities in the coastal waters n ear important sea-turtle nesting beaches pose a serious threat to the survival of this endangered sea turtle. It is therefore suggested that coastal waters adjacent to major sea-turtle nesting beaches be declar ed as closed areas for commercial fishing activities in order to ensur e the sea turtle's long-term survival.