The seven-month fishing ban in Odisha’s Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary has officially begun from November 1 and will continue until May 31, as announced by the Forest Department. This annual restriction aims to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, which arrive along the Odisha coast for mating and nesting during this period. Gahirmatha, located in Kendrapada district, is recognized as the world’s largest sea turtle rookery, spreading over 1,435 square kilometers from Hukitola to Dhamra.

During the ban, fishermen are strictly prohibited from fishing within 20 kilometers of the coastline in the sanctuary area. The sanctuary’s islands, including Nasi-1 and Nasi-2, serve as crucial nesting sites where thousands of turtles come ashore to lay eggs between March and May. To ensure effective protection, the Forest Department has established 14 turtle protection camps, with four located offshore at Madali, Sasanipada, Ekakula, and Babubali islands.

Four patrolling boats have been deployed to monitor illegal fishing activities and safeguard the marine sanctuary. In addition, police personnel from marine police stations at Jamboo, Talachua, and Tantiapala in Kendrapada district, along with the Coast Guard from Paradip, are extending support to forest officials in enforcing the ban. According to Gahirmatha Forest Range Officer Kapilendra Pradhan, it is mandatory for fishing trawlers to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), special escape hatches in fishing nets, to prevent accidental turtle deaths due to entanglement.

Earlier this year, Gahirmatha witnessed a record nesting event where 606,933 Olive Ridley turtles laid eggs between March 5 and 10 across various islands. The fishing ban and strict patrolling efforts underscore Odisha’s commitment to conserving marine biodiversity and ensuring the safe breeding of Olive Ridley sea turtles, a globally threatened species.