Forest department turns to fishermen to rescue Dugongs trapped in fishing gear

Three instances of Dugongs rescued by fishermen of coastal Pudukottai district have been reported in quick intervals during this month. The marine mammal — commonly known as sea cow — got entangled in the fishing gear of fibre boat fishermen while they were engaged in fishing off the Pudukottai coast. The trapped Dugongs were rescued and safely released into the sea by the fishermen of Ponnagaram and Therkku Pudhukudi coastal villages on February 6, 11, and 20.

Similar instances of rescue of trapped Dugongs by fishermen and their safe release into the sea were reported in various coastal villages last year too. A Forest department official said six cases of rescue were reported in February, June, and July last year. The fishermen involved in the rescue acts belonged to Krishnajipattinam, Ponnagaram, Ammapattinam, Muthurajapuram, and Sanguthoppu.

The fishermen record video with their mobile phones of the trapped Dugong and their safe release into the sea and send them to the Forest department officials. The department has been providing cash incentives to fishermen for their rescue act besides helping them repair the fishing nets damaged in the process.

The rescue acts by fishermen is being attributed to the sustained awareness programmes being organised by the Forest department explaining to them the importance of conservation of Dugong and other endangered marine species and protection of their habitats. The awareness programmes has had positive response which is evident from the rescue of the trapped Dugong and their safe release into the sea, the official said.

The Pudukottai district has a 42-km long coast line with awareness programmes organised from Kattumavadi to Enadhi. The awareness programmes were being carried out with funds provided under the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response scheme.

Drone surveillance

Alongside awareness programmes, field-level department officials have been monitoring the movement of Dugongs by deploying a drone. The department bought a drone a few months ago which is being deployed once in a fortnight from Vadakku Ammapattinam to sight Dugongs and their movement at different locations in the sea considered to be their habitat in an effort to protect this marine species. The gadget is flown a few kilometres above the sea from the shore to monitor this marine mammal.

The department has been using a fibre boat procured by it exclusively to monitor Dugong movements. The boat patrolling was carried out daily by engaging a fisherman as a boat operator and a department staff on board. The patrolling from Vadakku Ammapattinam is being carried out up to 10 km from the shore depending on the wind speed, the official said.