Staff Reporter
Margao
It’s not the kind of experience most tourists expect on a relaxing holiday — but for a group of Brazilian visitors on a dolphin-watching trip off the Benaulim coast, the outing turned into an unexpected wildlife rescue when they discovered two turtles entangled in ghost nets adrift in the sea. With help from local fishermen, the group managed to free the turtles and bring them ashore.
Isabel, who was part of the tourist group, said they were headed to a nearby island when they noticed the garbage and the turtles. “At first we didn’t know if it was alive or not and then it started moving,” she said.
Raising concerns about marine pollution, she said, “It was hard to get it out of the ocean and something needs to be done to stop this. Fishermen should be encouraged to dispose of their nets when they are not in use and in an appropriate place so that it does not affect the wildlife. I came here to chill and it is always good to have a good experience.”
Fisherman Pele Fernandes, who was accompanying the tourists on the trip, said they noticed a pile of nets and marine debris floating in the middle of the sea. “We noticed in the middle of the sea a large pile of nets with garbage like bottles stuck in them and as we got closer I noticed there were two turtles caught in the net. We released them and brought them to the shore,” he said.
Upon closer inspection, it was found that one of the turtles had sustained a serious injury. “We cut the nets and freed the turtles. In my opinion one of the turtles has a deep wound and maybe it was caught in the net for more than 10 to 12 days at sea. The younger turtle doesn’t seem to be hurt much,” said Fernandes.
Local police and forest department officials were called to Benaulim beach on Wednesday to assist with the rescue and coordinate treatment for the injured turtle.
