Kendrapara (Odisha): With the mass nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles' fast approaching, a 7-month ban on fishing activity was clamped from today along the 20-km stretch of Dhamra-Rushikulya river mouth, affecting the livelihood of thousands of traditional marine fishermen.

The stretch, famous for the mass nesting of the endangered specie, falls within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. An estimated 26,000 traditional marine fishermen in coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts are likely to be affected due to the ban order, which would remain effective from today to May 31.