By Elizabeth French
Illegal catching of Fish, Marine pollution and activities of Poachers along the beaches threaten the existence of marine Turtles. According to a Lecturer at the University of Ghana Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, Dr. Andrews Agyekum the very livelihood of fishermen depends on the existence of the marine turtles.
He said though they are seen as just species, they support improving fish stock, the health of the ocean and dependence on protein sources of human beings. He said the law requires fishermen who capture marine creatures to release and set them free, but instead, they are killed and sold for consumption.
Dr. Andrews who was speaking in an interview with GBC Obonu News at Legon stated that the activities of these fishermen are gradually moving the turtles from the beaches with enormous rippling effect.
Marine Turtles are incredibly important to the ecosystem as they are a vital part of the environment.
Among their many benefits, sea turtles also provide nutrients for coconut trees and other vegetation that grow along the beaches through unhatched nest, eggs and trapped hatchlings including left over egg shells.
Currently, in Ghana, three out of five Sea turtles that used to land on our shores for many years are now in danger of extinction largely because of changes brought about by humans, particularly fishermen and poachers.
A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, Dr. Andrews Agyekum spoke on why sea turtles are worth saving.
This significant change in our oceans and continuing reduction in the numbers of sea turtles facilitated the move by an Environmentalist, Malik Ereire to champion its course.
The Tema Newtown Naval Command lauded the initiative and encouraged him on his campaign train.
His message is clean the beaches save the turtles.
He walked from the Tema Newtown Naval base through to Tema beach road to Jamestown Central Environmentalist Malik Ereire spoke about his motivation to support the establishment of sea turtle nest conservation to save the turtle population
A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, Dr. Andrews Agyekum said research has shown that coastal residents through turtle-watching ecotourism can generate three times the income than selling sea turtle parts.
He urged stakeholders to diversify the kind of activity they sponsor and support a worthy course.
He entreated people to desist from dumping refuse in the sea and causing the marine species destroyed.
