Conservationists want sea walls demolished
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By Standard Team

Conservationists in Mombasa want the walls along coastal beaches pulled down to save turtle species from extinction.

Mr Bernard Ogwoka of the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee (Kescom) said the walls and the hotel lights interfere with the breeding of the animals.

Speaking at Castle Royal Hotel in Mombasa on Sunday, Ogwoka said the construction of sea walls along the Coastal beaches had interfered with the turtle nesting zones.

"Unless the seawalls are pulled down as a matter of urgency the few turtles we have will be wiped out," he said.

But National Environment Management Authority (Nema) Compliance Officer, Mr Dickson Njora, differed with the conservationists saying demolishing the walls could lead to a long-drawn-out war in the courts with the hotel owners.

"You cannot just demand for the demolition of the seawalls when the Government let them to put up the walls 30 years ago.

"If you demolish the walls then you should prepare for court battles," said the Nema official.

The English Point at Mkomani, Nyali Barracks, Serena beach, Jumba Ruins, Malindi and Watamu beach are known breeding grounds for the animals.

Ogwoka said lights on the beaches disorient hatchlings and nesting mothers from returning to the sea. He said they consequently move to the mainland exposing them to poachers.

"When turtles want to lay eggs on the nesting areas and come across seawalls they just disappear and move to other safer areas," a Fisheries Department officer in Mombasa, Ms Elizabeth Mulwa said.

Bamburi Fishermen Group chairman, Mr Emmanuel Yaa, said the number of turtles was thinning.

"Turtles were abundant some years ago now it is rare to come across the creatures in the beaches," he said.

The workshop was meant to come up with an environment impact assessment report about the walls.