Kendrapara (Orissa), Nov 1 (PTI) Orissa government today imposed a seven-month-long ban on fishing activity along the entire 20 km stretch of Dhamra-Barunei mouth within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in view of the commencement of mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles, triggering protests by fishermen.

An estimated 25,000 traditional marine fishermen in coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts are likely to be affected by the prohibitory measures.

The ban has been imposed in accordance with Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Prasanna Kumar Behera, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division, said.

As many as 212 marine fishermen were arrested and 84 sea worthy trawlers and vessels were seized during the ban imposed last time for fishing along the prohibited water zones.