The Orissa High Court has issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry & Dairying on the issue of procurement of transponders for installation in all the mechanised fishing vessels and trawlers as part of the turtle conservation exercise.
“The Court directs notice to issue to the Joint Secretary (Marine), Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Govt. of India, to file a response on the above issue before the next date. The Court expects that the necessary amendments to the guidelines would be issued by then (26 June)”, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. S Muralidhar and Justice M S Raman stated in an order.
The HC’s order came in the wake of an affidavit filed by the Joint Director (Coastal), Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Odisha. The affidavit stated that the Government of India has been requested to modify the guidelines regarding providing tracking devices, including transponders, for traditional and motorized fishing vessels. It also stated that the response of the Government of India is awaited. Three more months’ time is, accordingly, sought for suggesting the modalities for procurement of transponders.
It may be noted here that the High Court issued directions last year in this regard to ensure the safety of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles and curb the mortality rate of these delicate marine animals. As the transponder installation has already been done in Tamil Nadu, the High Court had asked the union Government to extend its cooperation in this matter.
The State had sought for the procurement of 1,740 transponders from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). However, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampad Yojana (PMMSY) scheme of the Centre in its present form did not accommodate the procurement process.