Bhubaneswar: The Forest Department has announced a fishing ban in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, home to the world’s largest sea turtle rookery, from November 1 to May 31 to protect the endangered marine species.
Fishermen have been directed not to go fishing within 20 km of the coastline in the sanctuary areas, which cover 1,435 sq km from Hukitola to Dhamra.
The sanctuary in Kendrapada district is a prime feeding area for sea turtles that nest all the way up to Nasi-1 and Nasi-2 islands within Gahirmatha beach and other areas. The turtles arrive in November for mating in the sea and lay eggs in March.
The department has set up 14 turtle protection camps, including four offshore ones at Madali, Sasanipada, Ekakula and Babubali islands. “We have deployed four patrolling boats to prevent illegal fishing and protect turtles in Gahirmatha. Police personnel of marine police stations at Jamboo, Talachua and Tantiapala in Kendrapada district and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and Coast Guard in Paradip will help the forest officials to protect turtles,” forest range officer of Gahirmatha Kapilendra Pradhan told the media.
He further said that it is mandatory for fishing trawlers to install a turtle excluder device, an escape hatch, in their fishing nets to save turtles from drowning.
Earlier this year, 606,933 turtles laid eggs between March 5 and 10, on various islands within Gahirmatha.