A Coast Guard vessel on drive to intercept unlawful trawling near Paradip coast. Picture by Sarat Patra

Paradip, Dec. 26: The Coast Guard has launched Operation Oliver to intercept unlawful trawling activities to ensure safe mid-sea sojourn of breeding Olive Ridley turtles.

“The agencies had sought for our services in the turtle conservation programme. Accordingly, the operation to keep vigil on illegal fishing along the turtle concentration zone is in full swing,” said Coast Guard commandant Ashutosh Behera.

The Coast Guard has pressed into service an improvised ship and a Dronnier aircraft to keep a tab on illegal fishing in the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.

“The exercise is in full swing as turtles perish in large number after getting hit on trawl propellers. Besides, breeding animals get entangled in fishing nets and are asphyxiated to death,” said Behera.

“The patrol vessels engaged by forest and fisheries department often seek our assistance in the event of exigencies. The operation to save turtles is being carried on in a co-ordinated manner,” he said.

While the focus of Coast Guard has always been to intercept trespassing of foreign vessels and its crew through sea route, there is always confusion over the proper identification of Bangladeshis infiltrating by sea-route.

Coast Guard personnel had earlier asked the state fisheries department to issue identity cards to every marine fisherman inhabiting at the migration-prone coastal villages.

The detection of Bangla infiltrators on trawls is a cumbersome process because of their striking similarity in language, looks and physical features with local Bengali-speaking marine fishermen. The fisheries department has been requested to feel the gravity of the situation to safeguard national security, said the Coast Guard sources.

“Often we find ourselves in catch-22 situation. The crew members from intercepted sea-worthy vessels are found Bengali-speaking. There is very little to differentiate from a Bangla national and migrant Bengali fisherman on the basis of physical features and spoken language,” said Behera.