Morjim Beach Goa

Morjim Beach Goa


Asvem and Morjim beaches are two of the quietest beaches in north Goa. They both have their own style and feel, Morjim having a long wide beach with the added attraction of being one of the few places where sea turtles nest in Goa. Asvem, has two long stretchs of beach either side of a small rocky area not usually found on Goa's coast, this area allows the abundant sea life, like crabs a safe haven during the low tide (see the picture at the bottom).

Morjim

Morjim is the first stop on this two day trip, it's beaches are normally missed by the average tourist so you'll find a quite place to relax, have a swim and drink before heading off to Asvem for the night. As there are few tourists, Morjim is still a nesting place for sea turtles.

Sea Turtle Conservation at Morjim

Morjim is home to the Olive Ridley sea turtle. Till not so long back these elusive little animals were found nesting through out the coast of Goa, but unfortunately now only nest in a few beaches along the coast, Morjim being one.

The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) has been working on turtle conservation at a national level since 1984, it recently started its work in Goa through its school education programme, it also looks at related environmental issues in the State and has been working since 1992 to sensitize teachers and students in the villages of Morjim, Agonda and Galgibag on the need to save these little understood creatures.

Sea turtles spend 98% of their lives in the sea, feeding, growing, breeding and mating. They are solitary animals and assemble together only during the mating season. The females return back to land to lay eggs, an Olive Ridley lays its eggs twice in a season. When a female heads for its nesting grounds, it returns to the same beach where it was born, this happens through a process called imprinting. Olive Ridley nesting grounds are usually stretches of beaches that are quite, uninhabited and is at the mouth of a river. This can be seen is all 3 cases of Morjim, Agonda and Galgibag, and the nesting site is chosen with good reason. At the mouth of a river temperature is noticed to be constant, interestingly, temperature determines the sex of the Olive Ridley hatchlings for unlike humans they do not have a sex chromosome. The sand at the mouth of a river is also porous and easy to dig, this is important cause the Olive Ridley makes a wide hole in the sand where it buries its eggs safe from predators like dogs, birds and humans. The mouth of the river is also a place rich in food supply. Juvenile turtles have to eat within 48 hours of being in the water and then make the long journey into the sea.

Breeding females come ashore at night, when it is quiet, they cross the high tide line and using their front and hind flippers did a pit. An estimated 100- 150 eggs are laid each time, sea turtles are not known to provide any parental care and return back to sea after the eggs are laid. The eggs hatch 50 days later, the turtles emerge from their nest at night and make their way back to sea.

More information about these fascinating turtles can be found at Morjim beach where a control center has been established.