Forest department personnel have recently sighted about 70 mating pairs of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles near Ekakula and Habalikhati, a km from the sea coast, under the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
This has confirmed that mating of the turtles has begun and it is expected to continue till December last. With a view to provide a congenial atmosphere to the endangered species for their breeding, surveillance has been tightened, said sources.
Apart from the forest authorities, the Indian Coastal Guard of Paradip also engaged personnel for patrolling and protection work of the turtles by launching “Operation Olivia” from November 8.
It was preceded by a high power committee meeting held on November 5, chaired by the State Chief Secretary and attended by officials from various stakeholders like the Forest department, the DRDO, the Coast Guard, the police, the Paradip port, the Dhamara port and the Fishery department. The Coast Guard has deployed a ship and also will press into service an air craft to provide adequate protection to the endangered species and restrict illegal trawler fishing at Ghirmatha.
Meanwhile, the Bhitarkanika forest personnel sought the help of the DRDO of Wheeler Island to step up surveillance in and around the inner and outer parts of the island. It is pertinent to note here that the Bhitarkanika officials have imposed a ban order on fishing activities inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary around 20 km off the shore from November 1 to May 31.
The Forest officials have effectively enforced the ban order under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983. The officials have also set up two off shore camps at Babubali and Agarnashi whereas 16 onshore camps were constructed under Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from Dhamara to Devi mouth. Notably, last year the turtles had skipped mass nesting phenomenon at Gahirmatha.