The research paper titled “Impacts of Anthropogenic Factors on Nesting Behaviour of Olive Ridley Turtles at Ratnagiri Coast” by Amol R Handore and Ravindra N Bhavare which was recently published in the Journal of Advanced Zoology, has found that while the forest department is taking all the best possible efforts for the conservation of these turtles that visit the Maharashtra coast for nesting, tourist beaches with resorts were avoided by female turtles.

The study, which was conducted between 2019 and 2023, revealed that 60 per cent of beach resorts release sewage and dump non-degradable solid waste along the beaches, as there is a lack of a proper sewage and garbage disposal system at Murud and Karde. The study indicates that female turtles avoid nesting on sewage-prone beach stretches. On the other hand, beaches without resorts, or with fewer resorts, showed maximum nesting density.

Pile of garbage at Murud beach in Ratnagiri district