The Pearl Protectors organised “Turtle Talk 2“, in light of World Sea Turtle Day on the 18th of June 2023 from 3pm to 5pm at popular beach restaurant “Pink Salt” in Dehiwala, to an audience of avid sea turtle enthusiasts. The Pearl Protectors are a youth-led marine conservation volunteer organisation that focuses on reducing plastic pollution and conserving the marine environment. They are committed to raising awareness about the fragility and beauty of marine ecosystems.
Turtle Talk 2 began with an informative awareness session regarding the varieties of sea turtles species that roam the world’s seas and visit Sri Lankan beaches, laws protecting sea turtles, ex-situ and in-situ conservation methods, and the numerous threats that are faced by sea turtles from man made pollution, especially from entanglement in fishing nets, ghost nets and plastic debris floating in the sea. The first presentation was given by Shalanka Ranjula (TransBML Project Lead) who explained in detail on the topic of sea turtle anatomy and engaged in a lively Q & A session with the audience.
Maleesha Gunawardana (Advocacy Lead), raised awareness of the threats to sea turtles, especially from the recent X-Press Pearl shipping disaster and from plastic pollution. Maleesha explained that while more should be done to protect the sea turtles in coastal regions. She noted that as per the Fauna and Flora Ordinance, private sea turtle hatcheries in Sri Lanka are deemed as illegal, where adult sea turtles were kept in overcrowded cement tanks, but yet they are still allowed to operate without expertise, monitoring or regulations. Ending the highly engaging “Turtle Talk 2” was Lenin De Silva (Research Lead) who educated those present on sea turtle health, necropsies and accident management with an educational slideshow.
Sri Lanka witnesses 5 of 7 sea turtle species coming ashore to nest as they are genetically adapted to return to the same shorelines of birth to lay eggs.Turtle Talk 2 gave an insight into the serious issues that are faced by sea turtles on our beaches. Team leaders explained that the Pearl Protectors are very much involved in protecting sea turtle eggs, by organising nightly beach Turtle patrols on a roster basis while working alongside the Sri Lanka Coast Guard officials in re-nesting eggs in secure locations.
For more information on The Pearl Protectors and the work it does, visit the website: https://pearlprotectors.org/
Article by Nelum Buddhadasa