Odisha To Celebrate March 2025 As First-Ever Marine Conservation Awareness Month

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has announced the celebration of March 2025 as the Olive Ridley Turtle & Marine Mammal Awareness Month for the first time, reinforcing its commitment to marine conservation.

The Office of the PCCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Odisha, has launched an initiative across key coastal regions to unite communities, experts, and NGOs in protecting the state’s marine biodiversity.

The protection initiative will cover coastal areas of Berhampur, Chilika, Puri, Rajnagar, Bhadrak and Balasore, stated a press release.

As of February 23, 2025, mass nesting of 698,718 Olive Ridley turtles has been recorded along Odisha’s coast, surpassing last year’s count of 637,000. This highlights the need for better conservation, especially for dolphins facing habitat loss and human threats.

The Awareness Month will feature outreach campaigns, digital sessions, and expert workshops to educate communities. Beach rallies will promote clean coasts, while fishermen will receive training on reducing bycatch and using Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to prevent entanglements.

The Office of PCCF (Wildlife) will launch a statewide educational drive alongside field activities during the awareness month celebration. The initiative will include infographic competitions, interactive quizzes (online and offline), and a ‘Species of the Week’ segment to raise awareness on marine mammals and dolphins.

Documentary screenings and expert talks will highlight their vital role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance.