The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Fishermen feel the heat of turtle conservation

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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Fishermen feel the heat of turtle conservation

Staff Reporter

Motorised boats are banned during the mating period of Olive Ridley turtles

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Livelihood issue: An Olive Ridley turtle near a boat. —

BERHAMPUR: The traditional marine fishermen are losing livelihood due to the Olive Ridleys, which come to nest at the beach near Rushikulya rookery in Ganjam district.

Fishing by motorised boats is completely banned in the sea up to a distance of five kilometer from the shore from November to May in this area of Ganjam coast because Olive Ridleys come near the coast during this time.

They reach the area in November for mating. Later the males depart and the females remain in sea for mass nesting that starts in February. The females depart after nesting and the eggs hatch after 45 days.

The new hatchlings enter the sea all by themselves. Fishing by motorised boats from Arjipalli to Magarmukha is banned every year during this period to protect the Olive Ridleys and their new hatchlings.

But it has affected the livelihood of around 12,000 traditional fishermen, who live in the area, said Mangaraj Panda, a social activist working for the fishermen.

Costly affair

Now even the small boats are motorised and non-motorised boats are a rarity. Fishing beyond five kilometers in sea with these small motorised boats is risky and costly. “Moreover after the month of February it becomes very hard to row in sea due to changes in wind and wave pattern,” said Mr Panda. The government has announced compensation to the fishermen families, who lose livelihood due to restrictions during the period.

The compensation is 2,700 per month and it is provided only to registered fishermen.

According to the activists of the Samudram, an organisation of the women folk of fishermen families, around forty percent of the fishermen families do not get compensation as they are not registered in official records due to various reasons.

Recently these fishermen have urged the State Government to make arrangements of alternative livelihood for them during this period as they are worst sufferers because of turtle protection.

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