Ban on fishing activity Mass nesting of Olive Ridley commences

The State Government on Nov.1 clamped a seven-month-long ban on fishing activity along the 20 km stretch of Dhamra-Rushikulya river mouth within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in view of the commencement of mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles.

An estimated 26,000 traditional marine fishermen in coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts are likely to be affected by the prohibitory measures. The ban has been clamped in accordance with Sections 2, 7 and 4 of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Over 100 trawls and vessels were seized and its crew arrested during the ban clamped last time as vessels defied the OMFRA provisions and indulged in fishing along the prohibited water zones.

“To ensure the safety of turtles, the prohibitory orders are being strictly enforced. The trawl operators have been cautioned not to venture into prohibited water zone. Any act of trespass would invite punitive measures”, said Mr. Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division.

In view of drop in marine fish catch and subsequent loss of avocation, fishermen have been voicing their demand for the Government to provide temporary permits for fishing activity on once-a-week basis.

“To make up the loss of livelihood sources, the World Bank funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) has taken up alternate livelihood stakes projects for the affected traditional marine fishermen. The programme has got underway. We have planned to cover all the fishermen families under the alternate livelihood scheme to compensate the community’s monetary loss due to prohibition”, Assistant Director of Fisheries (marine) Subrat Das has said.

“The conservation of endangered Ridleys 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. The breeding turtles get killed by the trawlers, which use mono-filament nets that lead to entangling of the turtles”, claimed Mr. Tushar Sardar, the district wing president of Traditional Marine Fishermen’s Union.

The prohibition in the past has resulted in a drastic drop in marine fish production and economy of the region which is largely regulated by sea fishing sector.

Ancilliary sectors like ice factories and net making units in areas like Dhamra, Jamboo, Kharinasi, Ramnagar, Sandhakuda, Ambiki, Erasama and Paradipgada have closed down. Skilled boat-makers from these areas are slowly heading towards Digha and Vishakhapatnam due to bleak business, he claimed.

 The Forest Department has its own way of demarcating the sea territory while State Marine Fisheries had a distinctive and separate demarcated line to detect unlawful fishing. The poor fishermen are thoroughly confused by the contradictory demarcation yardsticks, according to marine fishermen.

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