Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: The mating ground of the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles, the Rusikulya river mouth, has come under the scanner because of the mushrooming illegal fishing and prone-hatcheries run by the fishing mafias of the state and its neighbouring areas.
About 90 per cent of the Olive Ridley Turtles in the country are found in various sea coasts and river mouths of Orissa. The state is the breeding ground of sea turtles, but growing illegal fishing near sea-coasts has posed a threat to the endangered species.
“The mating season has started and will last till January. During this time lakhs of turtles came to the Orissa coast for mating and nesting. However, in the past few years, fishing mafias have dominated the area and this has put the turtles in danger,” said Ravindranath Sahu, the secretary of the Rusikulya Sea Turtle Protection Committee (RSTPC).
Only 61,000 turtles came to Rusikulaya for mating in 2013-14, while in 2012-13 it was about 3,20,000, according to RSTPC. “The number of turtles coming to the coast for mating has fallen dramatically from 2012 to 2014. This can be attributed to illegal fishing as these fishermen bring huge trawlers that eventually disturb the turtles and often is the reason behind their mortality also,” said Sahu.
A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary GC Pati had formed a high power committee to analyse the grave situation of the Rusikulya nesting beach and urged that it be declared an eco-sensitive zone. However, till now no steps have been taken by the government though the mating seasons has started.