Reduce turtle mortalities, Greenpeace asks Orissa
With turtle mortalities due to illegal fishing spiralling along the coast from Paradip to Chilka, the Greenpeace has asked Orissa govt to utilise funds recently released by the Centre to undertake effective patrolling to prevent illegal trawling.
By PTI |
BHUBANESWAR: With turtle mortalities due to illegal fishing spiralling along the coast from Paradip to Chilka, the Greenpeace on Friday asked Orissa government to utilise funds recently released by the Centre to undertake effective patrolling to prevent illegal trawling.
Accusing the state government of failing to check turtle mortalities, it claimed in a statement that from November to January, 2970 turtle carcasses have been counted along this stretch of the coast.
Greenpeace also asked the government to reduce the current rate of turtle mortalities by 20 per cent, at the very least, until the end of April, 2008.
As a first step, the government should commit to keeping the total casualities this year on par with those in previous years, it said adding this would require intensive patrolling to keep mechanised fishing out of turtle congregation areas.
The government then needs to set progressively depreciating mortality reduction targets for the coming turtle seasons.
Olive ridley turtles throng Orissa's coastline between November and May every year, with thousands killed each year by illegal fishing. Previously, state government officials had cited lack of funds as the reason for their inability to protect the species.
In 2007, the state government asked for and received from the Centre a sum of Rs two crores for turtle protection. The funds were disbursed in November 2007, the statement said adding the fisheries department has also acquired two patrol vessels to enforce the no-trawing zones and protect both turtles and traditional fishermen.
Accusing the state government of failing to check turtle mortalities, it claimed in a statement that from November to January, 2970 turtle carcasses have been counted along this stretch of the coast.
Greenpeace also asked the government to reduce the current rate of turtle mortalities by 20 per cent, at the very least, until the end of April, 2008.
As a first step, the government should commit to keeping the total casualities this year on par with those in previous years, it said adding this would require intensive patrolling to keep mechanised fishing out of turtle congregation areas.
The government then needs to set progressively depreciating mortality reduction targets for the coming turtle seasons.
Olive ridley turtles throng Orissa's coastline between November and May every year, with thousands killed each year by illegal fishing. Previously, state government officials had cited lack of funds as the reason for their inability to protect the species.
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2007, the state government asked for and received from the Centre a sum of Rs two crores for turtle protection. The funds were disbursed in November 2007, the statement said adding the fisheries department has also acquired two patrol vessels to enforce the no-trawing zones and protect both turtles and traditional fishermen.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
