Odisha Imposes 7 Month Fishing Ban at River Mouths to Safeguard Olive Ridley Turtles

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday clamped a seven-month fishing ban at three river mouths in the state in order to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles.

 The order came into force with effect from today, November 1.

The river mouths where fishing has been banned include Dhamara river mouth, Devi river mouth and Rushikulya river mouth.

As per the ban, no marine fishing activity could be undertaken within 20 km of the coast at the mouths of rivers Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya for ensuring a safe mating and breeding season for the guest turtles who travel to Odisha from far-off places, including the Pacific Ocean.

The measure, which is taken every year, will remain in force from November 1 to May 31 in accordance with the provisions of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, a forest department official said.

Every year, many turtles perish by getting entangled in fishing nets and after being hit by trawler propellers.

A multi-layered patrolling exercise will be in place during the prohibition period in the Olive Ridley turtle habitation corridors and involve forest, fisheries and marine police besides Coast Guard personnel, an official of the state government said on Wensday.

As many as 61 on-shore camps and five off-shore camps have been set up in the state's four wildlife divisions of Bhadrak, Rajnagar, Puri and Berhampur to ensure effective patrolling.

The armed police constabulary force will flank the forest and fisheries patrolling teams.

Five high speed boats, 13 trawlers and support boats have been pressed into service to intercept illegal marine fishing in prohibited zones.

Around 10,600 fishermen families will be affected due to the fishing ban. To compensate for the loss of their income, the state government has decided to extend one-time livelihood assistance of Rs 15,500 to each of the affected fishermen families, the official said.

A blanket ban on sea fishing is in force round-the-year in Gahirmatha coast in Kendrapara district.

Gahirmatha is acclaimed as the world’s largest habitation corridor of Olive Ridley turtles. It has been conferred the status of marine sanctuary in view of the turtles' congregation.

The female Olive Ridley turtles virtually invade the nesting beaches usually at the dead of the night for laying eggs - a phenomenon which is called 'Arribada'.

After laying the eggs the turtles leave the nesting ground to return to the deep sea.

Hatchlings emerge from the eggs after 45-60 days.

It is a rare natural phenomenon in which the baby turtles grow without their mothers before going into the sea, he said.