Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday imposed a seven months ban on fishing activities as the season for the nesting of Olive Ridley begins.
Every year on the coast of Odisha, the prohibition is clamped from November 1 to May 31 to ensure safe Olive Ridley turtles breeding nd protect them from fishing nets, fishing boats and trawlers.
Fishing activities are banned along the river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rushikulya.
Patrolling exercise will be carried out involving marine police, forest and fisheries departments, coast guard personnels to curb illegal fishing activities in the banned area.
As most fishermen would be affected due to the ban, the state government will provide livelihood assistance of Rs 7,500 to the affected fishermen families.
During the annual aaribada, lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles reach the coasts of Rushikulya Estuary in Gahirmatha and the Devi river Estuary in Astaranga for nesting.