Kakinada, Sept. 10: There has been a sharp decline in the number of sea turtles in the coastal areas and there are fears that proposed coastal corridor may drive them to extinction. As such, the rapid industrialisation along the coast, poaching and consumption of eggs and meat are posing a huge threat to the sea turtles, including the rare Olive Ridley species. A large number of turtles also die after being trapped in the nets of fishing trawlers and big mechanised boats. As per rules, fishermen have to use a Turtle Excluder Device (TED) in their nets but they rarely do it for the fear of losing their catch. Marine experts feel that the survival rate of a baby turtles in the current situation is as low as one per cent. The opening of the 975-km coastal corridor from Tada in Nellore to Ichhapuram in Srikakulam may further affect the breeding and nesting of sea turtles. Environmentalists say the corridor would increase pollution levels affecting the nesting of female turtles. "The rapid industrialisation along the sea coast will have a bearing on the breeding of the turtles," said Dr T. Rajyalakshmi, former director of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research. The turtles, with a life span of 300 to 500 years, visit the coastal areas during November-March, the mass nesting season. The turtles trundle on shore and dig small pits. Then each of them lays around 150 eggs in the pits, and covers them with sand and mud. Once the eggs hatch, the baby turtles make way to the sea, guided by sound and smell. However, nowadays, this process gets disrupted at many stages, reducing the number of turtles who make it to the sea. Sometimes, foxes and dogs run away with the eggs. "Research reveals that these animals existed even in the Jurassic age," says Dr B. Rajeswari and Dr Raghu Prakash of Central Institute of Fisheries Education.