even as conservationists celebrate the mass nesting of about 2 lakh endangered Olive Ridley turtles on the Orissa coast, over 1 lakh traditional fisherfolk in the six coastal districts of the state face an uncertain future. This is because the central empowered committee (cec), constituted by the Supreme Court (sc), is said to have decided to recommend a ban on all fishing activity within 5 kilometres of coastal waters around the nesting grounds. It is believed that the motorised fishing activities of traditional fisherfolk would also come within the purview of the ban.

Sources within the cec said the apex court would be informed about the recommendation soon. "I will give the report to the sc, so I don't want to comment on it now