Gahirmatha faces ecological crisis

The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, known globally as the largest nesting ground for Olive Ridley sea turtles, faces mounting ecological threats despite annual protection measures.

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The sanctuary, which attracts nearly 4-5 lakh turtles each year for nesting, is now grappling with severe pollution, illegal trawling, habitat loss, and administrative shortcomings.

Experts fear these issues could undermine decades of conservation work for the Olive Ridley — a species listed as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red Data Book. Only one out of 1,000 hatchlings survives to adulthood, according to IUCN data, underscoring the species’ fragile future.

Plastic waste and toxic effluents from nearby industrial belts and prawn farms are polluting the sea, damaging seaweed habitats that support marine life. Environmentalists say wastewater from shrimp aquaculture is contaminating coastal waters, destroying seaweed gardens and allowing jellyfish populations to rise alarmingly.