A female-led federation dedicated to marine conservation, in particular of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle, are working to boost fish stocks through sustainable fishing practices and artificial reef construction, harness the carbon sequestration potential of seaweed, and create stable incomes for women in the area.

Nature-based Intervention:

The Samudram Women’s Federation, comprising 160 women’s self-help groups with over 5,000 members in total, works to protect the Olive Ridley turtle, promote sustainable fishing practices, cultivate seaweed for carbon sequestration, implement artificial reefs to increase fish stocks, and provide training in sustainable livelihoods. The Samudram Federation bolsters turtle protection policies by monitoring the turtle’s population size, protecting and reintroducing young turtles into the wild, restoring its habitats, and advocating against extractive industry practices in nesting sites. The Federation has also constructed an artificial reef with concrete mounds to protect the shoreline and coastal habitats. This reef has had the added consequence of disincentivizing fishing in the area as bottom-trawler fishers are worried about getting their nets caught in the reef. Furthermore, to raise awareness about climate change as well as augment local incomes, members are cultivating seaweed for its carbon sequestration benefits and for processing into a natural gelatin substitute called ‘agar-agar.’ The federation focuses simultaneously on conservation and poverty reduction, reportedly providing income benefits to members and their families. For example, the Federation promotes and teaches a variety of sustainable fishing practices to its female members and has set up nine processing centers owned and run by the women themselves. Efforts have increased female ownership of key economic activities and improved access to services such as healthcare and education.

Overview of context and outcomes:

The Olive Ridley turtle is an endangered sea turtle whose key nesting sites are along the Odissa coastline. The government has banned fishing in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and restricted fishing in Rushikulya and Devi Rookery during peak nesting period in order to protect the turtle. Overfishing in the Bay of Bengal has caused fish stocks to dwindle and rising sea temperatures are coercing the stocks that do remain to deeper waters in which traditional fishing equipment is not viable.