Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 30 January 2024
A comprehensive training program focusing on marine turtle monitoring successfully concluded at Car Nicobar Island from 22nd to 24th January 2024. The initiative, organized by ICAR- Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Car Nicobar, aimed at raising awareness about the significance of marine turtle nesting habitats while establishing a baseline for turtle nesting and foraging behaviours through citizen science initiatives.
Generously funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) scheme, the training program targeted local tribal fishermen, positioning them as crucial informants in identifying marine turtle activities in Car Nicobar Island.
During the training sessions, a month-wise log sheet was distributed to the tribal fishermen to document daily observations on marine turtles. The participants were equipped with the knowledge to identify various turtle species and instructed on the specific nesting behaviours to be noted.
Approximately 25 tribal fishers hailing from Big Lapathy, Tapoiming, Kakana, and Teetop actively engaged in the first phase of the program. Identified as key resource persons for data collection, these individuals will play a pivotal role in contributing valuable insights into marine turtle behaviour in the region.
Dr. R Kiruba Sankar, Senior Scientist from the Division of Fisheries Science at ICAR- CIARI, and Mr. Mohamed Sarief of Krishi Vigyan Kendra coordinated the training program. The initiative operated under the guidance of Dr. Eaknath B Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
The training program not only empowered the local community but also set the stage for a collaborative effort to monitor and conserve marine turtles in Car Nicobar Island, emphasising the crucial role of citizen science in preserving the delicate marine ecosystem.