11 fishermen held for sneaking into prohibited marine sanctuary

Forest department has nabbed 11 fishermen on charge of carrying out unlawful fishing activity in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, an official said on Friday.

A fishing trawler used by fishermen was also seized by forest patrol team. y were arrested on Thursday and were sent to judicial custody on Friday, official said.

fishing vessel had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors contravening provisions of wildlife protection act, Orissa Marine fishing regulation act and mandatory rules of marine sanctuary, he said.

fishing prohibition remains enforced round year in Gahirmatha as it is accorded status of marine sanctuary. olive ridley turtles, accorded as schedule-1 animal under wildlife protection act for its highly threatened status, get entangled in fishing nets and die of asphyxiation. turtles also perish in large numbers after getting hit by fast moving propeller of fishing trawlers, forest personnel said.

state government has imposed a 7-month fishing ban close to coast including Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha from vember 1 till May 31 in view of mass nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles.