Bhubaneswar: Greenpeace India and United Artists' Association on Monday released the report of a study jointly conducted by them on the measures needed to improve the economic conditions of traditional fishing communities around the Gahiramatha sanctuary.

In the backdrop of the global concern for the well being of turtles breeding at Gahiramatha and the government's decision to declare the area as a sanctuary, which has adversely affected the livelihood of the traditional fishermen there, the study indicates that the differences are not irreconcilable.

The study covered 20,000 persons from 3,800 families in 15 villages around the Gahirmatha sanctuary in Rajnagar and Mahakalpada blocks.

It shows that most of them support the sanctuary in spite of its adverse impact on their livelihood.

The report suggests that the fishermen should be involved, and not merely informed, in the management of the sanctuary.

The report suggests that fishermen with traditional fishing nets should be allowed to fish in the area from 5 km to 10 km from the coast while the area up to 5 km can continue to be no fishing zone.

The fishermen also need more flexibility in implementation of the government schemes which promote alternative livelihood activities.