A 7 -month long fishing ban at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary was enforced from Sunday morning (November 1 to May 31 next) by the Marine Fishery Department aiming to provide security to the endangered Olive Ridely Sea turtles ahead of their annual sojourn to the sanctuary for laying eggs.
The Marine Fishery Department imposed the ban on fishing activities inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983. The fishing was banned in 20km area off sea coast in Bay of Bengal, said Additional Fishery Officer (Marine), Kujanga, Manas Ranjan Sahu.
“We are going to create awareness among the fisherman communities in the coming days to seek their support to protect and conserve the Olive Ridleys sea turtles," added Sahu.
Gahirmatha marine sanctuary is considered to be the world's largest rookery of the Olive Ridley turtles. The Bhitarkanika Forest personnel are going to seek the help from the Coast Guard, the Marine police and the Fishery Department to step up surveillance at Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary over the coming seven months , Rajnagar Mangrove(forest) and Wildlife Division DFO Bikas Ranjan Dash said. As several low pressures occurred in the Bay of Bengal over the last month, so there is a delay in arrival of the turtles in deep sea in the Bay of Bengal under the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. However, it is expected that the endangered turtles would be sighted within a fortnight, said sources.