For saving Olive Ridley sea turtles, a 7-month ban on fishing activity was clamped from November 1 along 20 km stretch of Dhamra, Rushiklya, Mahanadi and Devi river mouths.
The ban has affected livelihood of thousands of traditional marine fishermen. The stretch is famous for mass nesting of the endangered species and falls within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.
The fishing ban has been clamped under Section 2, 7 and 4 of Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA) 1982 and provision of Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
600 fishing trawler and vessels are engaged for sea fishing at Paradip fishing harbour. Near about 50,000 people directly or indirectly depend upon sea fishing. Ancillary sector like ice factory, net making units, packing and exporting units have closed down.
The conservation of endangered Olive Ridley is of paramount importance but it should not be at the cost of live hood of thousands of fishermen who cause no harm to these species, rued the affected fishermen