Bhubaneswar, Dec 10 : Odisha government has made elaborate arrangements for the conservation and protection of olive Ridley sea turtles during the mass nesting during the current year.
Fishing by motorised vessels, trawlers, and mechanised boats have been prohibited within 20km vicinity in Dhamra, Devi, and Rushikulya river mouth from November 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.
As many as seven sections of APR will be deployed under the coastal forest divisions during the period. While one section will be deployed each in Bhadrak, Puri, and Berhampur, four sections will be deployed in Rajnagar Forest Division for the protection of sea turtles.
The home department was requested to instruct Talachua and Dhamra Marine Police stations to provide all possible assistance to APR.
The collectors and SPs of coastal districts are asked to provide all possible assistance, and the Coast Guard was requested to conduct night patrols to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles.
A high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary P. K. Jena decided that 66 patrolling camps, including 61 onshore and 5 offshore camps, will be established with VHF, mobile phones, and other facilities to protect the Olive Ridley sea turtles.
The Forest Department, Coast Guard, Fisheries Department, and Marine Police will jointly conduct patrolling at sea.
Sources said seasonal operations have already started as of November 1, 2023, and the central monitoring unit is functioning in the state Wildlife Headquarter.
Funds have been allotted to concerned coastal forest divisions for the protection and conservation of sea turtles.
High-speed boats are deployed in Rajnagar, Bhadrak Wildlife Divisions, and Berhampur (T) Division for the protection of sea turtles.
Babu Bali, Agarnasi, New Devi Nasi Island, and Purunabadh will be the bases for seagoing patrolling.
Instructions have been issued to all coastal DFOs for organizing coordination meetings with ITR, DRDO authorities, Coast Guard establishments, fisheries departments, port authorities, collectors,Collectors and SPs for conducting regular patrolling and lighting regulation.