Bhubaneswar: Forest Department officials have arrested 23 fishermen and seized two fishing trawlers in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara. The fishermen were caught fishing in the prohibited zone, violating the sanctuary’s regulations during olive ridley sea turtle nesting season.
The seized items include 25 fishing nets, four GPS devices, three VHF communication sets, two fish finder machines, and approximately 8 quintals of fish. The arrested fishermen are from Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts.
The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is a protected area, and fishing is strictly prohibited to safeguard the endangered Olive Ridley turtles. The Odisha government has imposed a seven-month ban on trawler fishing along the 20-kilometer Dhamara-Devi river mouth stretch to protect the turtles’ nesting grounds.
The forest department has intensified patrols to prevent further illegal fishing and ensure the protection of the Olive Ridley turtles. So far, around 200 fishermen have been arrested for violating the sanctuary’s rules.
