Fishing Prohibited Along Odisha Coastlines to Protect Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting Season

 

The Odisha government has announced a fishing ban within 20 kilometers of certain coastal areas from November 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, aiming to protect the nesting grounds of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, an official reported on Friday.

This decision emerged from a high-level meeting focused on safeguarding these turtles, which annually nest along Odisha’s coastlines at Gahirmatha beach in Kendrapara district, the Devi river mouth in Puri, and the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam. During this period, the use of motorboats, trawlers, and mechanized fishing boats will be strictly restricted in designated areas near Dhamara, Devi, and Rushikulya to prevent any disturbance to the turtles’ breeding grounds.

A central monitoring unit will be established in the Chief Wildlife Warden’s office, alongside extensive awareness campaigns. Round-the-clock patrols will be conducted from both onshore and offshore camps, with armed police assigned to enforce the regulations. These camps will be equipped with VHF communication devices, mobile phones, and other necessary materials to ensure effective monitoring.

Mona Sharma, the Additional Chief Secretary of Environment and Forests, confirmed that the state’s wildlife divisions in Bhadrak, Rajnagar, Puri, and Berhampur are well-prepared for this season’s conservation efforts. These divisions are outfitted with high-speed boats and support vessels to prevent illegal fishing activities in the restricted zones.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) for Wildlife shared that around 3.5 lakh turtles nested along the Gahirmatha coast last year. Conservation efforts led to the seizure of 38 trawlers and the arrest of 202 people. Gahirmatha is a renowned mass nesting site for Olive Ridleys, and the fishing ban is expected to enhance protection for these marine animals.

To further assist, the Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Secretary announced a new mobile app for fishermen, which shows real-time no-fishing zones and provides alerts when approaching restricted areas, reinforcing the commitment to protect the turtles.