In Odisha’s Kendrapara district, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has announced a compensation plan for approximately 16,500 fishermen impacted by the annual fishing ban during the Olive ridley sea turtles’ nesting season. The ban is enforced at the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam, and Devi beach in Puri, where the endangered turtles come ashore for mass nesting.
Rabi Narayan Patnaik, Deputy Director (Marine) of the Fisheries Department, noted that compensation for affected fishermen in Kendrapara began in 2016, starting at ₹5,000 annually for 2,000 fishermen. Last year, this support was increased to ₹15,000, benefiting around 15,000 individuals. This year, ₹15,000 will once again be provided as compensation to each eligible fisherman impacted by the ban.
Despite these efforts, local fishing communities are calling for more comprehensive support. Prasanna Behera, President of the Odisha Traditional Fish Workers’ Union, highlighted the wider impact, estimating that around 50,000 fishermen in Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts are affected by the restrictions, which began on November 1 and will extend until May 31.
Behera explained that the union has repeatedly requested alternative income sources and fair compensation for losses incurred during the seven-month prohibition. He cited a Central Empowerment Committee directive, which advises the establishment of alternative livelihoods before such bans are implemented. “The compensation of ₹15,000 for only 16,500 fishermen is inadequate, especially given the long duration of the ban,” he remarked, underscoring the need for additional measures to support the entire fishing community during this period.
