Twenty arrested for illegal fishing in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary

KENDRAPARA, Odisha: Stepping up their drive to protect turtles' mass nesting, the forest personnel today took into custody 20 fishermen in a mid-sea interception for unlawful fishing along Gahirmatha marine sanctuary  in Odisha's Kendrapara district. 

The trawls used by intruders for fishing along the prohibited breeding zones of the endangered marine animals were seized by the patrolling unit engaged by the forest department for conservation of olive ridley sea turtles.

The arrested fishermen were native of Kharinasi village, a fishing hub in the district, they said adding, the vessels had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors. 

They were later forwarded to jail custody under provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982.

Sea patrolling has been stepped up within Gahirmatha marine sanctuary water territory in view of the annual mass nesting season of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. 

It may be noted that Odisha government has clamped a ban on trawl fishing along the 20 km stretch of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from November 1 in view of the ensuing mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley marine turtles. The imposition of prohibitory order was in accordance with sections 2,3,4 of the Orissa Maine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA).

Rise in mortality rate of mating turtles along the coastal water surface led to the clamping of prohibitory orders as the gill nets lead to deaths for breeding turtles.