New Helpline Launched to Rescue Stranded Marine Animals on Tamil Nadu Coast

Swift Summary

• Tamil Nadu government is collaborating with fisherfolk to rescue marine animals caught in entanglements.
• ReefWatch Marine Conservation has launched ‘Matsya: Marine Telemedicine Helpline & Resource Center’ to strengthen the response across Tamil Nadu’s coastline.
• Matsya aims to assist communities encountering stranded or injured marine wildlife, providing remote veterinary advice and technical support.
• Olive Ridley turtles are particularly vulnerable during their nesting season, with increased activity noted between January and March this year in Chennai.
• ReefWatch conducted post-mortem examinations of Olive ridley turtles along with the Forest Department earlier this year to identify causes of death.
• Matsya builds upon previous work by ReefWatch in Goa and Karnataka, where 494 stranding cases were handled between June-September 2024, including 181 live animals rescued by local networks of lifeguards, forest staff, and fishers.
• Fisherfolk can use the helpline (+91 6360249764) for real-time guidance from marine biologists and veterinarians via phone or WhatsApp interaction tools.

Indian opinion Analysis

ReefWatch’s launch of Matsya represents a significant step towards targeted conservation efforts for India’s marine wildlife.The telemedicine initiative addresses critical gaps-such as access to immediate veterinary care-especially crucial given Tamil Nadu’s vulnerability as a hub during Olive Ridley nesting season.

The integration of local fisherfolk into coastal protection ensures grassroots involvement while helping mitigate damage caused by inadvertent entanglements or unawareness about stranded animals’ needs. Training materials available in regional languages further bolster accessibility for on-ground responders-a crucial factor given India’s linguistic diversity.

However, challenges remain regarding infrastructure; many states still lack dedicated facilities for marine wildlife treatment-a void that initiatives like Matsya will need time and backing to fully address.bridging scientific expertise with community-level interaction coudl build scalable models applicable across other coastal states.

Read more at: The Hindu