Kendrapara, Nov 12: The 7-month long fishing ban in Gahirmatha beach which was levied to provide protection to Olive Ridely sea turtles during their nesting season, has now become a major concern to the local fishermen there as they have a chance to lose their livelihood.
It’s because this ban has led to unemployment to fishermen as many as 15,000. Although the government has made provisions of rice and compensation, the fisherman have said that they are yet to receive the compensation and grains from the past 2 years. The ban had begun from Nov 1 and will continue till May 31.
On the other side, the forest officers have informed that necessary steps have been taken to heighten security of turtles both on the beach and inside the deep sea and around 16 onshore and 2 offshore camps have also been set up to protect the aquatic species.
