The Odisha government on Wednesday imposed a seven-month ban on fishing in three river mouths of the state to protect the Olive Ridley turtles, the state’s flagship marine species.

The ban on fishing that came into effect from Wednesday would continue till May 31, 2024.

The three river mouths are the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam, the Devi river mouth covering Jagatsingpur and Puri district, and the Dhamra river mouth in Bhadrak district. These three river mouths are known as Olive Ridley nesting sites.

According to the government guidelines, there would be no fishing activities in the sea within 20km areas of the river mouth where it merges with the sea. The officials of the fishery department with the help of forest and marine police will patrol the area to ensure that the Olive Ridley turtle gets a safe place for laying the eggs.

After laying the eggs, the turtles leave the place and go back to the sea. Hatchlings emerge from these eggs after 45-60 days.

Officials maintained that the prohibition on fishing is required so that the turtles will not be victims of the entangled fishing nets or hit by the trawlers while coming to the land mass to lay eggs and later returning to the sea.