As many as 896 endangered Olive Ridley carcasses have been found in the ongoing turtle season at the favourite nesting place of the Gahirmatha marine species.
The turtle carcasses reportedly were washed ashore from November 1 to January 21. Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya confessed that due to illegal trawler fishing at Gahirmatha, the endangered marine turtles have been dying .This year the number of turtle carcasses has been increased.
Sea patrolling has been stepped up strictly within the sanctuary water territory in view of the annual mass nesting season of the turtles. Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Ranger Subrat Patra said most of the turtle carcasses were generally sighted at Nasi-II and Satabhaya beaches.
It may be noted here that the Forest Department has imposed a ban on trawler fishing along the 20-km stretch of Gahirmatha from November 1 to May 31 in view of the ensuing mass nesting of turtles. The prohibition was clamped in accordance with Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act.
In the ongoing turtle season, the forest personnel have seized as many as 31 fishing boats and arrested 167 fishermen.