Thousands of Olive Ridley turtles have thronged the beaches along the Bay of Bengal at Babubali, Agarnashi-I, Nasi-II, Habalikhati, Barunei, Satabhaya and Pentha under Gahrmatha Marine Sanctuary here.
Even though the mass nesting of the turtles have not begun, about 20 nests were sighted at Babubali and Agarnashi-I, Forest Department sources said.
During the egg laying season, female sea turtles crawl ashore at night, dig about 1.5 ft deep flask-shaped nests in the beach and lay 100-120 eggs on an average in each clutch and then bury the eggs under the sand dunes. Hatchlings emerge around 45-60 days after the mother turtle lays the eggs.
The State Government and the Forest Department take special precautionary measure including a seven-month long fishing ban from November 1 to May 31 in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary to ensure that the nesting season passes off without high mortality rate each year.
This year, too, the restriction has been imposed as per Odisha Marine Fishing Act (OMFA). Trawlers and fishermen have been directed not to fish within 20 km from coastline in the turtle nesting sites. Use of motor boats and mechanised trawlers for fishing within 5 km from the coast is prohibited.
Notably, the State Government has imposed fishing restriction on 120 km stretch from Dhamra coast to Devi river mouth.