When Bhitarkanika was declared a wildlife sanctuary constituted with the ex-zamindari forests of Kanika Raj that covered an area of 672 square kilometers by the Government of Odisha under Notification No. 6958/FFAH of 22nd April 1975 , thousands of fishers with other people traditionally dependent on the forest and its waters for living were turned into trespassers in their own lands. Subsequently, in the year 1998, the core area of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary comprising of 145 Sq. Kms was declared as a National Park under Notification No.19686 / F&E dated 16.9.98. Thus tightening the restrictions and making the area under national park as totally prohibited for any kind of activities including livelihood. The area has also been designated as the second Ramsar site (i..e. Wetland of International importance) of the State during August, 2002. Further, Bhitarkanika Biosphere Reserve has been proposed to be constituted with an area of approximately 3,000 square kilometers on the deltaic region formed by the alluvial deposits of river Brahmani, Baitarani and Dhamara (Bhitarkanika) and the Mahanadi deltaic area. While the importance of conservation of the eco-system can hardly be over emphasised, fundamental questions are raised regarding government policy responsible for ruining livelihood practices dependent on nature’s bounty and in harmony with nature as well as government sponsored all round attack on natural resources in all places including Bhitarkanika. The fishing communities dispossessed of their rights to fish in the waters of Bhitarkanika witness with scorn the huge ports at Dhamra and Paradeep adjacent to Bhitarkanika, the numerous factories or industries that have come up in the region and spew tonnes of pollutants in the estuarine eco-system, the systematic destruction of the eco-system in connivance with the government epitomised by the proposed development of the coastal economic zone (CEZ) between Paradip and Dhamra as part of the Sagarmala project. The right to livelihood of small scale fishers of Bhitarkanika were stubbed out without any consultation with the affected people, let alone the question of taking their informed consent. The fishers reported that Rupees 5,000/- was paid to only 1,000 people and 25Kgs of rice was given to each fishermen during 2015 and 2016, but this has since stopped. While arrests and harassment of poor fishers and confiscation of their boats and nets have become everyday phenomena, the unscrupulous forest guards are taking hefty sums from the fishers to let them fish in the sanctuary. This is going on even after enactment of the Forest Dwellers’ Rights Act in the parliament of the country. Bhitarkanika Crocodile sanctuary, said to be one of the most successful sanctuaries of its kind, breeds hundreds of crocodiles every season. These crocodiles are being released in the waters of adjoining streams and canals. Eventually there have been numerous incidents of crocodile attacks on villagers especially women. Odisha Matsyajibi Forum (OMF), a registered union of small scale fish workers formed last year, has resolved to take up the issue of livelihood rights of the fishing communities of Bhitarkanika and help in building up their struggle. The Government of Odisha in the Department of Fisheries has issued a notice that bans use of zero nets (nets with less than 10mm mesh size), enclosure prawn farming (gheris) and all kinds of non-traditional and destructive fishing in Chilika with immediate effect. OMF has been demanding removal of prawn farm enclosures from Chilika as these prawn farms established in thousands all over Chilika by non-fisher entrepreneurs not only had encroached upon large areas of Chilika, but also had been polluting the waters of Chilika. The impact of these prawn farms on the fish resources of Chilika had been disastrous. OMF has been demanding ban on the use of zero nets in Chilika as the same had been destroying the fish juveniles and seedlings thus impeding regeneration of fish stock. It is to be noted here that many small fishers of Chilika were compelled to use zero nets to earn a livelihood as fish stocks dwindled due to prawn farms and large scale fishing in the sea at the mouth of Chilika. OMF welcomes the decision of the Governmen of Odisha and demands further that: All remaining prawn farm enclosures should be removed immediately,Small scale traditional fishers of Chilika should be provided with assistance to change their zero nets to nets with higher mesh size, Fishers right to fish in the waters of Nalban Bird Sanctuary should be protected in accordance with the guidelines to protect fishers’ right to livelihood in protected areas enshrined in the National Policy on Marine Fisheries (NPMF), Immediate and effective measures are to be taken to remove obstacles from the catchment areas of Chilika and protect it from encroachments; and Immediate and effective measures are to be taken to open the mouth of Chilika to ensure sufficient sea water ingress.