Increase in tourists bad for Olive Ridley: Goa minister

Increase in the number of tourists is one of the reasons which has led to decline in the numbers of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle arriving on the beaches of Goa, Forest Minister Alina Saldanha said Thursday.

Along with the increase in number of tourists, Saldanha also listed night illumination of the beaches and erratic climatic changes as the other reasons for the migratory turtles avoiding beaches in Goa for their nesting sites.

She told the state assembly that in all 4,349 eggs were laid by the turtles since 2012 on three beaches namely Galgibag, Morjim and Agonda, which are traditional turtle nesting habitats.

"The department is not allowing beach shack owners and tourists to raise the sound and lights beyond limits," Saldanha said.

Olive Ridley turtles migrate thousands of miles every year to lay eggs on beaches like those in Goa and Odisha.