Orissa bans fishing for seven months to protect rare Olive Ridely turtles

Nageshwar Patnaik, The Economic Times 2 Nov 09;

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa government on Sunday imposed a seven-month-long ban on fishing activity along the entire 20 km stretch of Dhamra-Barunei
mouth within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in the wake of aribada [mass nesting] of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

This move will affect around 25,000 traditional marine fishermen in coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts, who eke out their living by fishing only.

The ban is in accordance with Sections 2, 7 and 4 of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division, Divisional Forest Officer, Prasanna Kumar Behera said.

As many as 212 marine fishermen were arrested and 84 sea-worthy trawlers and vessels were seized during ban clamped last year as vessels defied the OMFRA provisions and indulged in fishing along the prohibited water zones.

In view of drop in marine fish catch and subsequent loss of avocation, the fishermen have been demanding for temporary permits for fishing activity on once-a-week basis for their sustenance. In fact, the state government had announced Rs 2,700 a month for full time fishermen and Rs 1,350 for part time fishermen, but it was never implemented causing anguish among the traditional fishermen

Though last year the government had assured to provide temporary permits, it cid not keep its words pushing the marine fishermen to pecuniary, said a spokesman of the local traditional marine fishermen association.

According to the marine fishermen of these areas, the conservation
of endangered Riddley is of paramount importance but it should not be at the cost of livelihood of thousands of fishermen, who cause no harm to these species.

Most traditional fishermen fish in the 5 km stretch with their indigenous kani or net which do not harm turtles. But breeding turtles get killed by the trawlers, which use mono-filament nets that lead to entangling of the turtles.

The prohibition in past years has resulted in a drastic drop in marine fish production and economy regulated by fishing sector. Ancillary sectors like ice-factories, net making units, etc in areas like Dhamra, Jamboo, Kharinasi, Ramnagar, Sandhakuda, Ambiki, Erasama and Paradipgada have been closed down.

Skilled boat-makers from these areas are slowly heading to Digha and Vishakhapatnam due to bleak business.

Fishing ban breather for turtles
The Telegraph India 3 Nov 09;

Environmentalists protest death of Olive Ridley turtles in Gahirmatha last year

Cuttack, Nov. 3: The state government has banned fishing in and around Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles, which migrate to the Orissa coast every winter.

Sources said the forest department had imposed the ban from November 1 in view of the mating and nesting season of the endangered sea turtles. The restriction will continue till May 31, 2010.

Gahirmatha beach, which forms the eastern boundary of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, some 90km from here, supports the largest known nesting beach of Olive Ridley sea turtles in the world. Nearly half-a-million Olive Ridleys nest every year at Gahirmatha. Besides, the coastal waters off Gahirmatha are a major mating area for the turtles before nesting.

The ban is being enforced under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, and the Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983.

The divisional forest officer of Rajnagar mangrove forest (wildlife) division, P.K. Behera, said fishing had been banned around 20km of the Gahirmatha seashore.

Steps were also underway to set up onshore and offshore camps to keep a watch on illegal entry of trawlers to the sanctuary area during the seven-month ban period, he said.

The forest officials plan to step up night-patrolling with the help of coast guard personnel and marine police after the Olive Ridleys are sighted.

“We have sought help from coast guard, marine police and Defence Research Development Organisation personnel to step up surveillance in and around Gahirmatha coast during nesting,” Behera said.

The DRDO personnel are expected to initiate steps to mask defence-lighting system at the nearby Wheeler Island during mass nesting to prevent the turtles getting disoriented on the beach.