

Bhubaneswar: As many as 300 Olive Ridley turtles and a dolphin were found dead along the Puri beach on Wednesday.

Though carcasses of turtles are usually washed ashore on the Puri beach during winter, this was the first time so many turtles were found dead there. The forest and marine fisheries authorities on Wednesday seized two trawlers for carrying out unauthorized fishing despite a ban in view of the nesting season of the turtles.

Collector (Puri) Arabind Agarwal said he has sought a report from the concerned agencies. "This is unfortunate that a large number of Olive Ridley turtles died on the beach. It seemed they were hit by trawlers," Agarwal told mediapersons.

Beach Protection Council of Odisha (BPCO), a voluntary organization working for the protection of the beach, gave a memorandum to the collector seeking strict implementation of the fishing ban between November and May. "Trawlers continued to carry out illegal fishing during the ban period due to poor patrolling by marine police and forest authorities," said BPCO president Jagannath Bastia.

Noted sand sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik on Wednesday created sculpture of turtles with message "give us space to live" on Puri beach. "I felt sad to see these turtles and never seen such a huge number of dead turtles on the Puri beach. I appeal to the government through my sand sculpture to find out the cause of death of turtles and take steps for their protection," said Pattnaik.

At least 50 whales were washed ashore, and many among them died, in the southern port city of Tuticorin earlier this month.



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