Odisha Govt Imposes Two-month Fishing Ban in Entire Coastline

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has imposed a two-month ban on fishing within territorial waters along the entire Coastline of the State with immediate effect.

The ban came into force from April 15 and will remain in force till June 14.

The Directorate of Fisheries, Odisha, Cuttack wrote a letter to the Additional Fisheries Officer (Marine) of Ganjam, Kujanga, Balasore, Puri and the District Fisheries Officer (B&T), Balugaon, directing for an immediate ban on fishing for the conservation and effective management of fisheries resources and also for sea safety reasons.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (a) of sub-section – (1) of Section 4 of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act-1982 (Odisha Act of 1982) and having regard to the matters specified in the Sub-Section (2) thereof, the State Government do hereby prohibit fishing within territorial waters along the entire Coastline of Odisha State by all the fishing vessels except traditional fishing crafts, with or without engine from April 15 to June 14 (both days inclusive, 61 days) for conservation and effective management of fisheries resources and also for sea safety reasons.”

‘All stake holders should be informed accordingly to follow the notification meticulously from 15th April – 14th June 2024 (both days inclusive, 61 days) and necessary steps may be taken to aware Marine fishers for scrupulously following Uniform Ban across Odisha Coast,” the letter stated.