Bhubaneswar, December 17:Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja on Tuesday underlined the need to strengthen protection and conservation measures for Olive Ridley sea turtles ahead of the 2025–26 mass nesting season.
Chairing a high-level empowered committee meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan, Ahuja reviewed past conservation initiatives and outlined future strategies to safeguard the endangered species.
Officials informed the meeting that over 15.11 lakh Olive Ridley turtles nested during the 2024–25 season at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya, marking a record turnout attributed to favourable environmental conditions. Seasonal protection measures remain in force from November 1 to May 31, including marine surveillance, fishing restrictions, patrolling camps, and inter-departmental coordination.
The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of timely compensation for fishermen affected by fishing bans and called for continued cooperation among all concerned departments. He also highlighted a satellite telemetry study (2025–2029)aimed at tracking turtle movement and nesting patterns to further strengthen conservation efforts.
