Reviewing the steps taken on Olive Ridley turtles’ conservation on Tuesday, Chief Secretary AP Padhi directed the departments of Fishery, Forest and Marine police to operate in close coordination and ensure strict enforcement of the conservation rules.
The Coast Guard was requested to have real time intelligence sharing with the departments about any illegal fishing. The institutions like ITR, DRDO, Dhamara Port, Gopalpur Port and Paradip Port authorities were requested to follow the blackout practices and light deeming to save turtles from possible delusion.
Further, Padhi directed the concerned departments not to cause unnecessary harassment to the small traditional fishermen without power boats and catch hold of the real criminals who cause damage to the life of turtles. It was also decided to extend livelihood support programmes to the fishermen during the ban period under the ICZM project.
The committee proposed to enhance the livelihood support assistance from Rs 5,000 to Rs7, 500 to each family. The meeting also resolved to cover more eligible fishermen during the current year who suffer because of the fishing ban.
The proposal for setting up one Sea Turtle Research Center figured in the meeting. It was decided to set up the site near Ghati Central Nursery in the Khalikot forest range of Ganjam district.
The proposal for instituting a research fellowship on Olive Ridley conservation was discussed in the meeting. It was also proposed to name the fellowship after late Dr Chandrasekhar Kar, renowned expert and scientist of wild life organisation. The fellowship would be awarded for post doctoral studies.
The meeting deliberated on the Action Plan for 2018-19. It was decided that operations would start from November 1 and would continue up to May next. Fishing by motorized vessels / trawlers and mechanized techniques would be banned within 20 km from the specified coast of the sea comprising sea turtle congregation area and their buffer zones in 3 river moths namely Dhamara river mouth, Devi river mouth and Rusikulya river mouth. Wide awareness activities would be undertaken for the purpose. A central monitoring unit would be set up in the office of the PCCF, Wild Life.
There would be circle-level monitoring mechanisms under the direct supervision of Regional Conservator of Forests (RCCF), Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur and Baripada. They would coordinate with other law enforcing agencies and involve local NGOs in the activities. Berthing places would be set up at Barunei, Gupti, Sasanapeta and Krushnapriyapur and Rajnagar for safe custody of the seized vessels. There would be around 62 patrolling camp sites, including 57 on-shore and 5 off-shore camps. Each camp would be provided with VHF communication devices, mobile phones and required camping materials.
There would be regular communication and intelligence sharing among Coast Guard, patrolling ship, and various camps and marine police. An APR force would be deployed for patrolling and enforcement activities. Collectors would depute magistrates to remain in charge of APR force placed at disposal of DFOs. The industries and ports along the coast were requested to comply with the lighting regulations. Sporadic nesting activities of the turtles and their mortality would be monitored through a web portal under the title ‘manage.odishawildlife.org.’ Soon after mass nesting, the rookeries would be fenced to protect the nests and eggs.
