Every year lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles return to Odisha(a state in Eastern India) from Costa Rica for their annual mass nesting. Gahirmatha, Rushikulya and mouth of Devi River are three important mass nesting locations in Odisha. Olive ridley turtles arrive during November and stay up to March. Devi river is a vital congregation site for the olive ridley mass nesting(arribada).

According to schedule I under the wildlife protection act 1972, Olive Ridley turtles come under the threatened status. These mute species are also listed under the "Red List"(indicating the world's biodiversity and their status) maintained by IUCN as vulnerable. During their breeding season, utmost care has to be taken towards protection of the turtles primarily from getting hit by mechanised fishing motorboats. 

Approximately five lakh Olive Ridley turtles have died between the year 1993-2019 with more mortalities happening at Devi due to lesser conservation efforts of the government. These marine species also get entangled in nets and die of asphyxiation. Many die after getting hit by fast-moving trawlers. According to the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982), clause (c) of sub-section (1) of Section 4[15], fishing is prohibited within a radius of 20 km of the Gahirmatha area of the Bhitarkanika Sanctuary. However, this year in the month of November till date 100's of trawlers were moving at Devi river when the turtles are supposed to be mating inside the sea. The turtles travel some 11,000 miles approximately from Costa Rica to Odisha to lay their eggs and undergo a lot of pain while travelling such long distance. Also, they undergo a lot of hardship to lay eggs. As a state, we have vowed to protect them. However, the rules are not being followed due to government lapses. There is no coastal/forest guard present in Devi to prevent trawler movement. Despite writing emails to Puri district collector, CM(Odisha), Wild Life Odisha and other officials, only a meagre action has been taken. Trawlers are still moving and despite OMFRA act, rules are not being followed, leading to an excruciating death of these innocent species. Their bodies are thrown away in the beaches in a very irresponsible manner or left to die after they get killed or hurt.

By signing this petition, you will help us in the following ways:
1) Help save the vulnerable species which are dying in lakhs due to illegal movement of trawlers during their mating/nesting season.

2) Conservation of Olive Ridley turtles is very important for maintaining a healthy ocean ecosystem. They regulate the growth of various organisms by eating them. For example, Olive ridley turtles keep a check on the development of jellyfish by eating them.

3) It has also been known that Olive Ridley turtles can sense the presence of a cyclone. Hence, protecting them becomes even more important as India and especially the Bay of Bengal are prone to storms every year.

4) Last but not the least; the turtles travel such huge distance every year to lay eggs, only to be killed mercilessly by illegal human interventions. Isn't this our duty to protect them and prevent from getting extinct in the coming years?

I request you to please sign the petition in huge numbers. With your support, we can pressurize the government to act according to the rules of OMFRA and put an end to illegal trawler movement during the nesting season. This can helps us save lakhs of more Olive ridley turtles from getting killed.