Traditional fishermen have urged state government to relax the ban imposed on fishing in the sea to protect olive ridley turtles as they are facing livelihood threat. They have also sought a raise in the compensation offered by the government to compensate for the fishing ban. The seven-month-long ban, clamped on November 1, will affect nearly 30, 000 fishermen in the coastal districts, especially Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur. “The ban on fishing is applied up to 20km in the sea from the shore. But that is illogical for the traditional fishermen. Their small boats equipped with outboard engines cannot go that far into the sea. The prohibition on fishing should be restricted to an area of 10 km,” said Narayan Haldar, president, Odisha Matsyajivi Forum. The Odisha Traditional Fish Workers’ Union, an umbrella organisation of state’s traditional fishermen, has also been protesting against the ban, which it describes as “irrational and prejudicial” to the interests of fishermen. General secretary of the union, K. Alleya said the fishermen were determined to raise the issue at all possible forums. The seven-month ban on fishing is in addition to the routine ban on fishing every April and May during the breeding season of fish. Besides fishermen are not allowed to enter the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district round the year, this again being a measure to protect the endangered turtles.