Coastal erosion, seawall construction leading to rapid loss of sea turtle habitats along Karnataka coast: Study – The New Indian Express

Report on Sea Turtle Habitat Degradation along the Karnataka Coastline and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

A recent study by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) highlights significant habitat loss for sea turtles along the Karnataka coastline. The degradation of critical nesting grounds, driven by anthropogenic pressures and climate change, poses a direct threat to marine biodiversity and undermines progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The research, published in Regional Studies in Marine Science, evaluates the extent of habitat degradation and its impact on threatened turtle populations.

2.0 Key Findings on Coastal Ecosystem Health

The multifaceted research approach revealed several critical challenges to coastal sustainability and marine conservation efforts.

• Habitat Loss from Coastal Engineering: Over 52% of local fishermen surveyed attribute the decline in sea turtle nesting to coastal erosion and the construction of seawalls. This indicates that current coastal protection measures are failing to support the objectives of SDG 14.2, which calls for the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Beach Narrowing: A decade-long analysis (2013-2023) confirmed significant narrowing of beach stretches at traditional nesting sites, including Panambur and Bhatkal. This erosion occurred despite the presence of seawalls, suggesting these structures exacerbate the problem, conflicting with the resilience-building aims of SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Impact on Threatened Species: Multiple strandings of olive ridley turtles were recorded between 2021 and 2024. This direct impact on a vulnerable species underscores the urgent need for action to meet the targets of SDG 15.5, which aims to halt biodiversity loss and protect threatened species.

3.0 Analysis of Causal Factors in Relation to SDGs

The study identifies several interconnected drivers of habitat loss, each with clear implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Unsustainable Coastal Infrastructure: The reliance on hard engineering solutions like seawalls intensifies erosion and degrades natural habitats. This approach is misaligned with the principles of sustainable infrastructure promoted under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
2. Land-Based Pollution: The report identifies two major forms of pollution impacting turtle habitats.
   • Artificial lighting along beaches disorients hatchlings, reducing their survival rates.
   • Inadequate coastal waste management leads to litter from rivers and drains polluting nesting grounds.

   Both factors represent a failure to achieve SDG 14.1, which targets the prevention and significant reduction of marine pollution from land-based activities.

3. Climate-Induced Pressures: Extreme weather events linked to climate change are accelerating coastal erosion, demonstrating the critical link between achieving SDG 13 (Climate Action) and protecting marine ecosystems.

4.0 Recommendations for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

The CMFRI study proposes several strategic interventions to mitigate habitat loss and align coastal management with the SDGs.

• Adopt Nature-Based Solutions: Transition from hard seawalls to “soft engineering” approaches such as living shorelines. This method, which uses native vegetation, enhances ecosystem resilience and directly supports the targets of SDG 14.2 and SDG 13.1.
• Strengthen Pollution Control: Implement strict controls on artificial lighting near nesting beaches and enhance coastal waste management infrastructure to curb the flow of marine litter, directly contributing to SDG 14.1.
• Foster Conservation Partnerships: Engage local fishermen as conservation partners through awareness and incentive programs. This collaborative approach is central to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and leverages traditional ecological knowledge for more effective conservation outcomes.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on marine life and coastal ecosystems links to SDG 14, while the underlying causes and proposed solutions connect to SDG 13 and SDG 11.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  This is the most central SDG addressed. The article’s entire focus is on the threats to sea turtles, the degradation of their coastal habitats (nesting grounds), and the overall health of the marine ecosystem along the Karnataka coastline. It discusses pollution (litter), habitat loss, and the need for conservation of marine species.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly mentions “climate-induced extreme weather events” as a reason for habitat loss. It also discusses coastal erosion, a phenomenon exacerbated by climate change and sea-level rise. The debate between hard infrastructure (seawalls) and “soft engineering” is a core discussion in climate adaptation and building resilience in coastal zones.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The issues of coastal management, infrastructure choices (seawall construction), and waste management are directly related to how human settlements along the coast are planned and managed. The article’s call for controlling artificial lighting and enhancing coastal waste management points to the need for sustainable practices in coastal communities to reduce their impact on the environment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific problems and solutions discussed in the article, the following targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris.
     • Explanation: The article directly addresses this target by advocating for “enhanced coastal waste management to curb the flow of litter from rivers and stormwater drains onto the shoreline.”
   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts… and take action for their restoration.
     • Explanation: The study’s focus on the loss of “critical habitats like turtle nesting grounds” due to coastal erosion and seawalls directly relates to this target. The recommendation to use “soft engineering” approaches like living shorelines is a measure aimed at protecting and restoring these coastal ecosystems.
   • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas…
     • Explanation: The article identifies key traditional nesting locations (Panambur, Yermal, Kirimanjeshwara, and Bhatkal) that are under threat. Protecting these specific, critical habitats is a core component of achieving broader conservation goals for coastal areas.

2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
     • Explanation: The article discusses the impact of “climate-induced extreme weather events” and coastal erosion. The critique of seawalls, which can “intensify coastal erosion,” and the promotion of “living shorelines” as a “more sustainable and ecologically sound alternative” is a direct discussion about building effective resilience and adaptive capacity to coastal hazards.

3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):

   • Target 11.b: …increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters…
     • Explanation: The call for a multi-faceted approach involving “soft engineering,” control of “artificial lighting along turtle nesting beaches,” and “enhanced coastal waste management” represents the kind of integrated policy and planning needed for coastal settlements to become more sustainable and resilient.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can be used to measure the state of the coastal environment and the progress towards the identified targets.

• Decline in turtle nesting: The article states that “over 52% of local fishermen attributed the decline in turtle nesting to sea erosion and seawall construction.” The frequency and success rate of turtle nesting can serve as a direct indicator of the health of coastal habitats (relevant to Target 14.2).
• Width of beach stretches: The study recorded a “significant narrowing of beach stretches at key traditional locations.” Measuring the width of these beaches over time is a quantitative indicator of coastal erosion and habitat loss (relevant to Target 14.2 and 13.1).
• Number of turtle strandings: The article notes that “Turtle strandings—mostly olive ridleys—were recorded along the coast between 2021 and 2024.” Tracking the number and cause of strandings is an indicator of threats to marine species and overall ecosystem health (relevant to Target 14.2).
• Presence of coastal litter: The mention of the need to “curb the flow of litter from rivers and stormwater drains” implies that the amount of litter on the shoreline is a measurable indicator of land-based pollution (relevant to Target 14.1).
• Adoption of sustainable management practices: The implementation of recommended policies, such as the use of “soft engineering” instead of seawalls, the enforcement of controls on “artificial lighting,” and the establishment of “enhanced coastal waste management” systems, can serve as policy-based indicators of progress (relevant to Target 11.b).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newindianexpress.com