Bhubaneswar: A seven month long fishing ban has been imposed in the mouths of rivers Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya on the Odisha coast with the nesting season for the endangered Olive Ridley turtles starts. Every year, the government of Odisha imposes the ban on fishing trawlers to safeguard the Olive Ridley turtles. Fishermen are prohibited to go for fishing in the sea in an area spanning 20 kilometers from the mouths of the three rivers Dhamara, Devi, and Rusikulya.
The Forest Department has made arrangements for strict implementation of the ban with multi-layered patrolling exercise. Marine police and coast guard personnel have increased patrolling in the coasts. Lakhs of turtles come to the beaches in these months to lay eggs which will hatch in 45 to 60 days. Keeping in view the livelihood loss to the fishermen, the State government will extend one-time livelihood assistance of Rs 7,500 to the affected fishermen families.
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