Effect of human activities on decrease in turtle habitats in Kosgoda

Abstract

Turtle habitats were widely spred some decades ago in the Kosgoda area due to some favouring factors of the environment. At present, turtle resource is decreasing very rapidly both in global and local scales. However, five species of turtles can be found in the Kosgoda area. The main objective of this study was to analyse how human activities affect on the decreasing turtle habitats in the area. A questionnaire survey was carried out To collect data depending on random sampling covering 17% of the families in the Kosgoda area. The study reveals that 35% of the employed people in the area are engaged with jobs connected to the sea. Majority of these people are engaged in fishing industry. About 4% of the people who are engaged in fishing industry use the Earth nets (Polo Dal) while 46% of the people use Dynamite. In addition, the research reveals that harmful methods used in fishing industry directly affect the extinction of the turtle resource. Accordingly, Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) are the main species those affected by such destructive human activities. The other destructive human activity is that the harmful waste dumping in to the coast.