Kendrapara: A seven-month long fishing ban at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is going to be enforced from November 1 by the Marine Fishery Department, reports said. The step has been taken to provide security to endangered Olive Ridely sea turtles for their annual sojourn to the sanctuary for laying eggs.
The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is considered the world’s largest rookery of Olive Ridley turtles. In a bid to protect the marine turtles and provide a congenial atmosphere for the nesting season, the forest personnel sought help from Coast Guard, marine police and the fishery department to step up surveillance at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, said official sources.
“The state marine fishery department is going to impose a ban on fishing activities inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, around 20 km off the shore from November 1 to May 31, 2019. The forest officials will enforce the ban under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and the Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983,” a senior official said.
The forest officials have also set up two offshore camps at Babubali and Agarnasi whereas 14 onshore camps were constructed under Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary from Dhamara to Devi mouth to restrict the illegal entry of trawlers to the sanctuary.
PNN
