Rajnagar: A fishing ban has been imposed on the 1437 sq km Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, home to the rare Olive Ridley turtles, from Friday. The restrictions will be effective in 160 km from the Dhamra mouth to Devi River mouth. Restrictions on fishing and trawling have been issued for seven months – from November 1 to May 31.
There is a complete ban on trawling and fishing in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary throughout the year.
Meanwhile, for the turtle season, the Fisheries Department has imposed restrictions on fishing, including a ban on the movement of mechanized trawlers and boats up to 20 km from the coast from Dhamra mouth to Devi River mouth. Two camps have been set up at Bahubali and Agarnashi to protect the rare Olive Ridley turtles.
By the first week of November, turtle protection camps will be set up at 14 places including Ekkula, Satbhaya, Jaudia, Dobandhi, Ishaqpeta, Talang, Jatadhara, Belkud 1 and 2, Hawakhana, Ramtara and Bandar. Five staff members will be deployed in each officer camp and three staff members will be deployed in each of the other 14 turtle protection camps.
Similarly, the Forest Department has informed that one section each of the AP Force will be deployed in Babubali and Aashiqpeta. Joint patrolling will be done by the Forest Department, Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Fisheries Department to protect the Olive Ridley turtles from the clutches of pirates and fish mafia and to check the movement of illegal trawlers.
Olive Ridley turtles travel hundreds of nautical miles to Gahirmatha to reproduce. After breeding, the turtles lay eggs and hatch them, and then return to their territory. The Forest department is keeping a close watch on this area as turtles are dying due to trawling.
