Demand for Jellyfish Keeps Olive Ridleys Starving

The rising demand for jellyfish in the overseas market is threatening the survival of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles in Orissa, experts say.

Extensive fishing for jellyfish along the Orissa coast to cater to the demands in the overseas markets is creating a food shortage for Olive Ridleys, Biswajit Mohanty, coordinator of turtle conservation group Operation Kachhapa, told IANS.

The abundance of jellyfish on the Orissa coast attracts thousands of Olive Ridleys every year during winter months, mainly at Gahirmatha, Devi and Rushikulya, for food and nesting.

'Earlier, our fishermen used to discard the jellyfish as unwanted catch, but now they are being sent to markets as far as Chennai and then to China,' said Mohanty.

The jellyfish is the Olive Ridleys' favourite food, although they also eat fish, shrimps and crabs, he added.

Since law does not protect the jellyfish, no legal action can be taken to prevent its fishing. The catch is mainly for exports.

If the rampant fishing remains unchecked, the Olive Ridleys will be deprived of their main food source, which may lead them to abandon the Orissa coast. India should ban jellyfish exports, Mohanty said.

'We have already sighted Olive Ridleys swimming off the mouths of the three rivers here. The demand for the 'Rhopilema' type of jellyfish from Chinese buyers has charged the markets,' Mohanty said.

Olive Ridleys are found in most of the coastal waters of Orissa.

Officials, however, said they were unaware of the situation. 'Nobody catches jellyfish here,' said A.C. Naik, joint director of the state fishery department.

The Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapada district, about 174 km from here, is the world's largest nesting site for Olive Ridleys. Nearly 800,000 turtles come here every winter.