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The following report is from the Centre for Advanced Research in Natural Resources & Management (CARINAM) which has been conducting a survey on the status of critically endangered turtles of Bangladesh.
During the survey they found that Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea – Local name: Jolpai kochhop) are collected by fishermen fishing in the Sunderbans and are sold to beparis in local markets such as Bajua, adjacent to the Dangmari Forest Beat Office. From Bajua Bazaar local traders (forias) buy the turtles, slaughter them and sell the meat in Bajua, Podderganj, and Digraj weekly markets.
The CARINAM research team – including Dr S. M. A. Rashid, Chief Executive, and Maksudur Rahman, Field Researcher – were informed that the forias buy each marine turtle for Tk. 1000 (approx USD 15) and sell the meat at Tk.120 (about USD 1.75) per kilogram. CARINAM members saw three marine turtles being slaughtered and counted seven dried plastrons from previous sales. The slaughtering and meat sale is done on the road side in front of tens of people. Forest Department officials including the Conservator of Forest (Wildlife & Nature Conservation Circle) and the Divisional Forest Officer, Sunderbans (West) were informed by CARINAM for taking appropriate actions.
It is to be mentioned that marine turtles are protected under the Bangladesh Wildlife Preservation Act. Bangladesh being a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), and the IOSEA Memorandum of Undernstanding on turtle conservation needs to take appropriate measures for the conservation and management of marine turtles. Marine turtle mortality in large numbers is also caused by the fishermen in Cox’s Bazaar, St. Martin’s Island and Sonadia Island areas. Therefore CARINAM is also working on the promotion of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) for marine turtle conservation.
For more information, please contact:
S. M. A. Rashid, PhD
Chief Executive
Centre for Advanced Research in Natural Resources & Management (CARINAM)
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