Turtles on the beach of Cox’s Bazar Peninsula

Dead turtles on the beach of Cox's Bazar | Photo Kewkradong.com

Month of February is the nesting season for the sea turtles of Bangladesh. But like many years it remains the same as many turtles are dying on the shore while nesting or laying their eggs. Nearly 60 dead turtles have found along single stretch of beach of only 40 kilometers of the coast of Cox’s Bazar – Teknaf peninsula, the south eastern coast along the Bay of Bengal.

Fishing nets on the shore of Cox's Bazar Peninsula | Photo Kewkradong.com

Fishing nets on the shore of Cox's Bazar Peninsula | Photo Kewkradong.com

A team from International coastal cleanup visiting the coast to investigate new specimen of marine debris along the beach have found the number of newly died or death turtles during their expedition. It’s been still a mystery the cause of the deaths though it can be concluded the over fishing and fishing nets on the beach could be a bigger cause of death to blame. During this month sea turtles specially Olive ridleys, pullulating the shores to nest may caught or entangled in laid nets or while fishing. Few numbers of dead turtles were having fishing lines across their neck and have been cut off from the net. Though
local fishers have denied the charge claiming they merely seen any turtles have found in their nets.

The Team Kewkradong

Experts believe that not only the fishing is the cause of these deaths, also pollution of shore area, increment of local inhabitants, very poor waste management and above all stray dogs can also be a cause.

Fishing nets on the shore of Cox's Bazar Peninsula | Photo Kewkradong.com