Fisherman community is worried over limited fishing opportunities in seawater, as 102 crew members from about 17 fishing vessels have been arrested for violation of fishing ban along the Dhamra-Devi river mouth coast in the past few weeks. The Odisha Marine Fish Producers’ Association has demanded proper border demarcation in seawater where ban is in force and identification of the fish-breeding season. Forest, coast guard and fisheries personnel have launched a crackdown on illegal fishing along the turtle breeding zones. At present, a ban on fishing has been imposed along 20km stretch between Dhamra and Devi river mouth to facilitate mass nesting by endangered olive ridley sea turtles. The ban will remain in force from November 1 to May 31. “Marine fishermen are having a tough time in venturing into sea for fishing. The ban along coast starts from April 15 to June 15, which is considered as the fish-breeding season. When the ban period gets over, monsoon hits the coast. For the next six months, the number of seafaring days decreases on account of rough weathers, including formation of low pressure areas and depressions,” said president of the fish producers’ association Srikant Parida. “On account of climate change, there is no fixed season of fish breeding. The government must identify the months during which fish can be breed,” he said. “To compensate the losses of livelihood sources, subsidised rice at Rs 1 per kg is being distributed under Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation programme to more than 6,000 fishermen families. These families are directly hit by the ban,” said district fisheries officer Gyan Ranjan Samal.