A seven -month fishing ban at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary was enforced from Saturday by the Forest Department aiming to provide security to the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles for their annual sojourn to the sanctuary for laying eggs.
According to Forest official sources, the turtle season is approaching for which the department imposed the ban on fishing activities inside the
The ban covers 20 km off the shore from November 1 to May 31. The annual ban is enforced under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983.
The Bhitarkanika forest personnel have sought help from the Coast Guard, Marine police and the Fishery Department to step up surveillance at Gahirmatha, informed Rajnagar Wildlife and Mangrove (forest) Division DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
The forest officials have also set up two off shore camps at Babubali and Agarnasi whereas 16 onshore camps were constructed from Dhamara to Devi mouth to restrict the illegal entry of trawlers to the sanctuary.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that over 20,000 traditional marine fishermen in Kendrapada district are likely to be affected by the ban on fishing as they would lose their livelihood for the coming seven months. As a result, the fishermen are now worried a lot. "The conservation of endangered Olive Ridley turtles is important but it should not be at the cost of the livelihood of thousands of fishermen who cause no harm to the species," argued Odisha Traditional Fish Workers' Union (OTFWU) president Narayan Haladar.
Notably, the State Government is providing 25 kg rice to each affected family at Rs 1 per kg every month under the World Bank funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) for compensating their livelihood loss during the ban period.