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The Odisha government on Saturday imposed a seven-month fishing ban along its coast to protect endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles which come to the state beaches for mass nesting every winter, an official said.
The ban is imposed along 120 km of the state's 480 km coastline to protect the turtles. They are set to congregate in shallow waters, senior forest officer Kedar Kumar Swain told IANS.
No fishing activities would be allowed within 20 km of the coast near the nesting sites. The ban will remain effective till May 31, he said.