The Orissa Government today clamped a seven-month-long ban on fishing activity along the 20-km stretch of the Dhamra-Barunei mouth within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in view of the commencement of mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles. An estimated 26,000 traditional marine fishermen in coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, who are likely to be affected by the measure, have voiced their protest.
The ban was clamped in accordance with the provisions of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Assistant Director of Fisheries (Marine), Mr Rabi Narayan Pattnaik, said. “To ensure the safety of turtles, prohibitory orders are being strictly enforced.
Trawl operators have been asked not to venture into prohibited water zone. Any violation would invite punitive action,” said Mr Manoj Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division. Nearly 100 trawls and vessels were seized and their crew arrested during the ban last time.