Odisha Govt Prepares Action Plan for Protection of Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has come up with an Action Plan for 2021-22 for the conservation and protection of the Olive Ridley sea turtle, an endangered species during the mass nesting period.

The regional conservator of forests would monitor the operations in their respective jurisdiction in close coordination of district administration, police and other concerned departments.

The government will impose a seven-month prohibition on sea fishing activity within 20 km of the coast at the river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya.
Odisha forest department will ban fishing between November 1, 2021-May 31, 2022.

The State High Power Committee on the conservation of Olive Ridley was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra.
The operations would start from November 1, 2021 and would continue up to May, 2022. One central monitoring unit would be set up in the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden.

Wide awareness activities would be undertaken for the purpose. Circle level monitoring mechanisms would be undertaken under the direct supervision of Regional Conservator of Forests (RCCF), Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Baripada. Berthing places would be set up at Barunei, Gupti,
Sasanapeta and Krushnapriyapur and Rajnagar for safe custody of the seized vessels.

A total number of 66 patrolling camp sites including 61 on-shores and 5 off-shore camps would operate round the clock. Each camp would be provided with VHF communication devices, mobile phones and required camping materials, according to official sources.