The Turtle Tale: Morjim Beach
Morjim Beach, sited in Pernem on the north bank of the Chapora River estuary, is one of Goa’s most popular beaches and is also a habitat to the rare Olive Ridley marine turtle. Every year, between November — April, the state sees these turtles coming onshore for their nesting period. But in light of recent events that have taken place at Morjim beach, these turtles face possible disruption to their natural life processes.
Days after community conflict over a barrier on Vainguinim beach, there was a rise in complaints about a second wall on Morjim beach. The ramp was supposedly erected out of panic by the Fisherman’s team at the north end of Morjim beach. The construction was taken up to help protect their boats, fishing nets, and other equipment on the coastline. A part of Morjim beach is a specially protected area for the breeding of the Olive Ridley turtles. While the concerns of the local fishermen are valid, such constructions can lead to disruption of the land, which in turn could disturb the breeding ground for an already endangered species of turtle.
To ensure the protection of the Olive Ridley turtles, Sarita Fernandes founded Morjim Sea Turtle Trust. Sarita is a marine and coastal policy research scholar. She, along with Abigail Fernandes and Snigdha Sehgal, run this organisation, and focus on raising awareness about these turtles and their nesting nature. The reason for setting up Morjim Sea Turtle Trust was to sustain and preserve a diminishing community-conservation model that enabled the beach to eliminate sea turtle egg and meat poaching and allow for undisturbed nesting. She describes how sea turtles begin to nest around the end of October and through the first week of April. However, because of climate change and increased tourism demands, they are now seeing nesting delays up to December each year. And with December being a prominent month in Goa’s tourism season, the nesting area is more prone to face disturbances if one fails to be cautious.
Morjim is one of the main beaches where the Olive Ridley turtles turn up for nesting. Other beaches include Mandrem, Morjim, Agonda, Talpona, Galgibag. Having a dedicated area for the nesting of these sea turtles shows just how vital the beach land is for the sustenance of their lives. Climate change has resulted in changing sea levels, weather disturbances that can cause damage to coastal land unexpectedly. But impromptu constructions along coastal stretches, be it that of corporate resorts or unaware locals, can not only result in further land damage but damage the livelihoods of plant, animal, and sea life.
When asked about how Goans can help save the natural land with its gifts, she encourages people to visit the five nesting beaches to familiarise themselves with the areas. “Making oneself aware of the deteriorating situation of these beaches is another way to help. We also need conservation groups that are almost a minority in these villages to come forward and represent sea-turtles over profit,” she says. Olive Ridley turtles are classified as a threatened species on the endangered list of the International Union for Nature Conservation. To have them grace the Goan shores for their nesting period shows a strong correlation between protecting the land and protecting these turtles.
At the moment, the nesting habitat is patrolled by a team of three-four locals from neighbouring villages who monitor the hatcheries. Beyond that, no additional scheme is in place to ensure concrete protection of the turtles.
Protection of Goan coastal lands is crucial. Not just for maintaining its serene beauty but also to avoid the complete destruction of notable breeding grounds. The Morjim Sea Turtle Trust works dedicatedly to raise awareness and protect these sea turtles. As locals, we must fight and do our part to safeguard our treasured beaches and ensure that the sea life surrounding them face no harm. We don’t want to reach a point where an already endangered species loses out on its life, simply because we didn’t take the necessary steps to protect them while we could.
