File picture of Olive Ridley mass nesting on Rushikulya river mouth

Berhampur; June 6: A shrimp hatchery, owned by an individual entrepreneur, has become a serious threat to the Rushikulya rookery coast.

The site is considered the second major mass-nesting place for Olive Ridley sea turtles after Gahiramatha in Kendrapara district.

Rabindra Nath Sahu, secretary of the Rushikulya Sea Turtles Protection Committee has expressed concern at the future of the Rushikulya rookery.

A hatchery in Kantiagada, spread over three acres, is coming up in the area, which will affect the nesting.

“I don’t know how did one get the permission to construct a hatchery in such a sensitive place, which is 500 meters away from the coast. The construction has started for the past two months and more than 50 per cent work for the project has already been completed,” Rabindra said while adding that two hatcheries will come up in the area.

Artificial lights, porch lights from beach homes may disrupt the adult turtle’s natural instinct to lay their eggs, and freshly hatched turtles instinctively depend on the night sky’s natural light to guide them to the ocean.

If artificial light interferes, the babies may head to the wrong direction and never make it to the water, he said.

Ganjam district collector Prem Chandra Chowdhury, when contacted by The Telegraph, expressed his ignorance about any hatchery in the area of the Rushikulya rookery.

Sudhanshu Mishra, Berhampur divisional forest officer, too, said that he had “no information” about the hatchery. “I will be able to comment only after an inquiry,” he said.

“Shrimp hatcheries need no environmental clearance according to law. But we have to see whether the hatchery would use high-mast lights or not. If these lights are used it would definitely affect the Olive Ridleys. In that case our foremost duty would be to restrict such projects,” he said.

“Conducive atmosphere contributes to the record number of Olive Ridleys nesting on the beach. The members of the eco clubs, formed under the National Green Corps have been engaged in creating this conducive atmosphere for the past few years. We must preserve our coast and see that the Rushikulya rookery is not damaged,” said co-ordinator of the eco clubs Shankar Narayan Bez.