Forest division gears up for Olive Ridley nesting in Odisha’s Ganjam

By Express News Service

BERHAMPUR:  With mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles all set to happen, the Forest division in Ganjam district with help of stakeholders is stepping up measures to guard the endangered species throughout this era. 

In a gathering on Saturday, Berhampur DFO Amlan Nayak stated patrolling off Ganjam coast has begun after the seven-month fishing ban to guard the Olive Ridley turtles got here into impact on November 1.

The DFO stated, 4 vessels together with three velocity boats and a trawler are patrolling the ocean since final week to crack down on fishing trawlers and mechanised boats in no-fishing zones.

Forest workers have been deployed in 11 camps to make sure security of the ocean turtles. 

Three management rooms within the five-km stretch of the coast the place mass nesting takes place, have been opened, together with one close to the river mouth.

To facilitate mass nesting, forest officers have determined to make a fence across the stretch from Gokharakuda to Podampeta.

Besides, cleansing of the seaside and consciousness drive amongst fishing people in villages near the river mouths are being undertaken. 

To compensate for lack of earnings, the State authorities has determined to increase one-time livelihood help of Rs 7,500 to affected households, Nayak stated.

In Ganjam, as many as 3,638 households of 9 villages will profit from the compensation.

“Last year, the nesting was sporadic but this year we are hoping mass nesting and are taking all needful measures,” the DFO added. 

Marking the start of the mass nesting season of the turtles, the State authorities has prohibited fishing actions inside 20 km of the coast at river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rusikulya from November 1 to May 31.