Bhubaneswar: Fishermen, boat owners, fishing society members, and the general public have been issued an urgent advisory in Balasore district, particularly those operating from Udaipur, Talasari, and Kirtania beaches.
This comes in view of the upcoming two-day coastal security exercise named “Sagar Kavach”, scheduled for March 24 and 25, 2026.’Sagar Kavach’ is a regular joint coastal defence drill conducted by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, marine police, and other security agencies to enhance preparedness against asymmetric threats from the sea, including potential terrorist infiltration or suspicious activities.
Similar exercises have been held periodically along various Indian coastlines, including Odisha in previous years, to test inter-agency coordination and coastal security mechanisms. To ensure safety and smooth conduct of the exercise, all fishermen venturing into the sea during this period are strongly advised to strictly comply with the following mandatory safety and identification measures like –paint boats in red and black colours for easy visibility and identification, clearly display the boat’s name and registration number, carry all required boat documents on board, keep QR-linked Aadhaar cards of the fishermen readily available.
They were also advised to hoist the Indian national flag on the boat.
Equip the vessel with essential safety gear, including life jackets (for all on board), fire extinguishers, Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) or similar emergency beacon devices, and other life-saving equipment.
Fishermen are urged to avoid entering restricted or exercise zones if announced and to prioritize personal and vessel safety. Additionally, if any suspicious persons, unknown boats, or unusual activities are spotted at sea, individuals are requested to immediately report to the nearest fisheries Department officer, Marine Police Station, or local Fishermen Society staff.
