In a move to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, Odisha’s government has implemented a seven-month fishing ban in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, spanning 1,437 square kilometers within the Bhitarkanika National Park. The restriction, effective from November 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, aims to ensure safe conditions for the annual mass nesting of these rare sea turtles, which are known for their synchronized nesting, called “arribada,” where thousands gather on the beach to lay eggs. The ban affects not only Gahirmatha but also extends to critical nesting and breeding areas at the mouths of the Rushikulya, Dhamra, and Devi rivers.
Fishing activities, particularly the movement of mechanized trawlers and large boats, are prohibited up to 20 kilometers from the coastline stretching from the Dhamra river mouth to the Devi river. This designated buffer zone is intended to reduce disturbances during the Olive Ridleys’ mating and nesting season, providing an optimal and secure environment for them to reproduce. “We have imposed a strict seven-month ban on fishing and trawling in Gahirmatha, especially as the turtles are expected to arrive this month to begin mating,” said local Rajnagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sudarshan Gopinath.
"Protecting these endangered turtles requires intensive measures. While we enforce year-long conservation efforts, this seven-month ban is particularly stringent to safeguard the breeding process." Odisha's coastline is one o.