Bhubaneswar: In order to encourage research on Olive Ridley conservation, the state government has decided to institute a fellowship programme on the extinct species.
This was decided at a meeting of a high-power committee for protection and conservation of Olive Ridley turtles presided over by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at Secretariat here Tuesday.
It was proposed to name the fellowship after late Dr Chandrasekhar Kar, renowned scientist. The fellowship would be awarded for post-doctoral studies, official sources said.
Reviewing the measures taken so far, Padhi asked the departments of fishery, forests and marine police to work in close coordination to ensure strict enforcement of conservation rules.
He directed the concerned departments not to harass small traditional fishermen and nab real criminals who cause damage to the life of turtles.
It was also decided to extend livelihood support programmes to fishermen during the ban under Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.
The committee proposed to enhance the livelihood support aid from Rs 5000 to Rs 7500 to each family. The meeting also resolved to cover more eligible fishermen who have suffered due to the fishing ban during the current year.
The move to set up a Sea Turtle Research Centre figured at the meeting. It was decided to establish near Ghati Central Nursery in Khalikot forest range of Ganjam district.
Chief wildlife warden Sandeep Tripathi said 11.10 lakh Olive Ridleys emerged from the sea to lay eggs along Odisha coast in 2017-18.
The meeting which deliberated on the Action Plan for 2018-19 decided to start operations November 1, 2018 and continue up to May 2019. There would be 62 patrolling camps including 57 on-shore and five off-shore camps, they said.
PNN