Saturday, January 14 2006 12:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: Greenpeace has decided to install buoys in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast to demarcate the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary to assist fishermen in identifying the prohibited zone and launch a specially fitted vessel Greenpeace Sugayatri on January 16 to exhaustively patrolling seas for turtle protection.

Sanjiv Gopal, Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace, told a press conference here yesterday (Jan 13,2006)that the project was being undertaken in collaboration with the Orissa Traditional Fish Workers' Union (OTFWU) and the Orissa Marine Resources Conservation Consortium (OMRCC).

The marine sanctuary had been notified by the State Government as a measure to protect the lakhs of Olive Ridley sea turtles which visited the Gahirmatha beach to lay eggs every year.

"We have manufactured special buoys for the purpose which are now stacked in Paradip and they would be put in place over a ten day period beginning January 16," he said.

The work would begin from Kharinasi in Kendrapara district, Gopal added.

K Alleya, General Secretary of OTFWU, who was present at the news conference, welcomed the move saying it would help both fishermen and protect the turtles.

The speciialy fitted vessel Sugayatri, at its launch, would be accompanied by a flotilla of local traditional fishing boats.

Noted film actress and animal rights crusader Amala Akkineni and Oriya film-stars Siddhant and Anu Choudhury would be on board the vessel to lend their voice in support of protection of the Olive Ridleys, Gopal said.