Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday laid the foundation stone for a new sea turtle conservation centre at Children’s Park in Guindy, Chennai, marking a major step in the state’s efforts to protect threatened marine life and strengthen biodiversity initiatives.The centre, to be set up under the Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources and Blue Economy (TN-SHORE) Project with World Bank support, will be developed as a Centre of Excellence at an estimated cost of ₹14.5 crore. It is designed to support scientific research, telemetry and monitoring of marine turtles, and will house centralised data management facilities to aid conservation work.
According to officials, the facility will also function as a training and capacity-building hub, act as a platform for public education and outreach, and serve as a nodal institution for inter-departmental coordination and technical expertise in marine turtle protection. The initiative reflects a growing commitment to addressing the ecological challenges facing coastal species and enhancing long-term conservation strategies in the region.