Odisha imposes a 7-month-ban on fishing to protect the Olive Ridley turtles

Odisha has imposed a 7-month-ban on fishing along the coast to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. These usually arrive during the winters for nesting and, the Odisha forest department has imposed this ban which will be in force from November 1 to May 31, 2016. These turtles arrive every year for mass nesting in Rushikulya river mouth and Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 2 November 2015.

The restriction have been imposed as per Odisha Marine Fishing Act (OMFA). Under this Act, trawlers and fishermen are not allowed to fish within 20-Km off the coastline in the turtle nesting sites. Moreover, use of motor boats and mechanized trawlers for fishing within 5-Km from the coast between Astarang and Baliharchandi in Puri district has also been prohibited.
Patrolling would be carried out along the coastline and action would be taken against the violators under the Odisha Marine Fishing Act (OMFA). There would also be on-shore camps at 13 places including Devi mouth, Devinasi, Daluakani, Chandrabhaga and Ramachandi.
Incidentally, more than half a million Olive Ridley turtles arrive and congregate in the shallow coastal water of the Bay of Bengal in November. They climb ashore for nesting between December and March and most of the hatchlings usually emerge by May.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)


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