Kendrapara: The Marine Fishery Department imposed a ban on fishing along the eastern coast of Bay of Bengal for 61-days beginning Monday to facilitate breeding of fish.
Marine fishery assistant director Kujanga Manas Ranjan Sahu said the ban would be in force till June 14 next.
The marine fishery department urged fishermen against venturing into sea with mechanized vessels and trawlers as it would affect the breeding process.
The ban coincides with the spawning season for fish, during which they release eggs. As trawlers use fishing nets with small gaps, eggs and young ones would be caught in the nets leading to depletion in fish production.
Motorised and non-motorised boats measuring up to 8.5 meters long are exempted from the ban. These boats can go to the sea up to 12 nautical miles to catch fish.
The marine fishery department asked the Industries near Paradip, not to discharge effluents into the water bodies that are connected with the sea, as it would have adverse impact on fish breeding and spawning.