Puri, Nov 1 : The Department of marine fisheries and forest department banned fishing in the sea by trawlers, mechanised boats, and country boats along the twenty km long sea line from River Devi confluence at Astarang to Arakuda confluence under Brahmagiri of Puri district to facilitate laying of eggs by Olive ridley sea turtles.
The annual restrictions which began on Wednesday will continue till June 1 next.
Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACFO) Uttam Garnaik said 10 large units of forest staff, and five units of special supervising officers are deployed besides involving the local NGO activists and teachers. This apart sea boats will also patrol the coast he added.
Over 1.5 lakh sea fishermen population of Chandrabhaga and Puri will be out of their livelihood for six months.
Bibhuti Rout the fisheries officer said sea fishermen families are given one-time assistance of Rs. 15000/- to support them.
Olive ridley sea turtle is notified internationally as an engendered species and the state government has taken care to protect their egg-laying habitats.