Training program on marine turtle monitoring through citizen science concludes at Car Nicobar Island

A training program on marine turtle monitoring was organized at Car Nicobar Island from 22-24 January 2024 by ICAR- Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Car Nicobar. The training was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under theSTI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) scheme. The training program was primarily meant to generate awareness of the importance of marine turtle nesting habitats and to build baseline information on turtle nesting and foraging habitats in Car Nicobar Island through citizen science initiatives. In citizen science initiatives, the local tribal fishermen were trained who act as a primary source of information to identify the nesting and foraging behavior of marine turtles in Car Nicobar Island. A month-wise log sheet to record the details of the daily observations on marine turtles was handed over to the local tribes along with training on the identification of turtle species and the nesting behavior to be noted. A total of 25 tribal fishers from Big Lapathy, Tapoiming, Kakana, and Teetop actively participated in the first phase of the training and awareness program who have been identified as key resource persons for data collection purposes. The training program was coordinated by Dr. R Kiruba Sankar, Senior Scientist, Division of Fisheries Science, ICAR- CIARI, and Mr. Mohamed Sarief, Krishi Vigyan Kendra under the overall guidance of Dr. Eaknath B, Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.