Maharashtra: Marine Animals management centres to come up across coastline

With regular beaching of marine mammals like whales and dolphins becoming a huge concern, the state government is planning to set up Marine Animal Stranding Management Centres (MASMC) at various locations along the coastline, including Mumbai.

The state forest department's mangrove cell has already completed the work of setting up the first centre, which will be located at the Indian Institute of Scuba Diving and Aquatic Sports (IISDA), in Tarkarli, Sindhudurg that is run by MTDC in association with marine biologist and chief instructor Sarang Kulkarni.

"We had requested for some space for MASMC and also for members to be trained. We got a positive feedback. We have even identified groups from various districts who will be trained in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for both stranded marine mammal or in case a carcass is washed ashore," shared N Vasudevan, chief conservator of forest (CCF) and head of mangrove cell.

He added that each group will have NGO locals, experts as well as a veterinarians in the team with a complete kit with important rescue equipments like dolphin stretchers and other tools along with a mobile post mortem kit. All this will be kept at the centre.

According to Vasudevan, if there is a live whale or dolphin or any other marine species stranded, the team will head to the spot along with required gears from the centre, including a boat that will be sent to the spot to ensure it can be saved in time.

"In case there is a carcass washed ashore the same team with a vet will follow the procedure to conduct post mortem on the spot and find the reason for its death. They will also make arrangements for the carcass to be properly disposed," he said further informing that soon several such centres will be set up at crucial locations all along the coastal belt of Maharashtra.

Responding to the high number of dolphin carcass being washed ashore along Mumbai's coast, Vasudevan said that there was surely a need for this centre in Mumbai as well. "We are working on starting one such centre here too and it's on our priority list," he said.

Pradip Patade, founder of Ocean Conservation Education Awareness Network (OCEAN) who has been studying the marine biodiversity around Mumbai said that setting up such centre and having a fixed SOP was need of the hour.

"While it's a very good move one should not wait till the centre has been set up in Mumbai. Instead, a high level meeting can be called comprising NGOs, BMC, police as well as the fire brigade and ideas be exchanged and SOP be decided so that everyone knows what they are supposed to do in case another carcass is found along Mumbai coast."