Kendrapara: Buzz of activities by marine fishermen started early Saturday at several fishing jetties of Kendrapara district as after a gap of six and half months, the marine fishery department lifted ban on fishing within 20 km outside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
The Odisha fishery (marine) department had imposed a ban on fishing on November 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024 in accordance with provisions of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983.
The ban was imposed to protect the endangered Olive Ridley Sea turtles at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary from 20 km off the sea coast in Bay of Bengal.
The marine fishery department too imposed a ban on fishing at sea from April 15, 2023 to June 14, 2024 keeping in mind that it would not only affect the breeder fish but also affect the breeding process as trawlers use fishing nets with small gaps.
As the fishing season commenced, the mechanized boat owners and trawler owners of coastal district worshipped their boats and sea God, varuna on the auspicious Raja Sankranti and later ventured into the sea for fishing by taking all the fish-catching equipment, Maa Ramachandi boat Owner’s Association, Secretary Tushar Sardar said.
He said more than 25 to 30 fishing vessels ventured into the sea on the first day of lifting of fishing ban at Bay of Bengal.
The Marine Fishery Department has asked all the fishermen community to take the registration certificate and license of the mechanized boat or trawler, and a biometric identity card before entering into the Bay of Bengal for fishing.
The fishermen were however, asked not to catch fish by trespassing into the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary with the help of trawlers, as the forest department generally imposes a fishing ban within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary round the year.
Trespassing into the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and catching fish would put the fishermen into trouble as the forest personnel would arrest them and seize their boats for trespassing into the sanctuary, said Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Ranger Pradosh Moharana.
UNI