An environmental alert has been issued in Gabès following the recent discovery of a growing number of dead sea turtles washed up on the region’s beaches.
Nawfel Hammouda, president of the Association for Wetland Areas, expressed deep concern on Tuesday about this alarming phenomenon, noting that the turtles belong to an endangered marine species.
In an interview with Diwan FM, Hammouda stated that between six and seven dead sea turtles are found daily along the region’s coastline.
He emphasized that the primary cause of this mortality is accidental fishing: the turtles become trapped in fishing nets, lose consciousness, and ultimately die from asphyxiation or drowning, unable to surface for air.
“It is urgent to raise awareness among fishermen and implement stricter protection measures to safeguard this fragile species,” he said, calling for cooperation between local authorities, NGOs, and marine professionals.
The Association for Wetland Areas is also urging the establishment of monitoring and rapid response mechanisms, as well as appropriate regulations to reduce the impact of human activities on the marine wildlife of the Gabès region, which is particularly vulnerable.
