Odisha bans sea fishing in turtle congregation zones for seven months

Bhubaneswar, Nov 1 (UNI) The Odisha government on Sunday imposed a seven-month ban on sea fishing within 20 km of the coast around the river mouths of Dhamara, Devi and Rushikulya to protect Olive Ridley turtles during their annual breeding and nesting season. The prohibition will remain in force from November 1 to May 31. However, sea fishing is banned throughout the year along the Gahirmatha coast, the world's largest known nesting ground of Olive Ridley turtles, which has been designated a marine sanctuary, forest officials said. The annual restriction aims to prevent the endangered marine species from dying after…