Kendrapada: Ten marine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh were arrested in Odisha on Thursday on the charge of illegally fishing within the prohibited turtle congregation zone in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary of Kendrapada district.
Forest officials said that fishing equipment of the ten individuals, hailing from Vizianagaram district of the neighbouring state, were seized. Later they were remanded to judicial custody.
They said two fishing vessels had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors contravening the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act and rules of marine sanctuary.
With the latest interception, 367 marine fishermen have so far been arrested for acts of intrusion into the marine sanctuary as the forest department is intent on ensuring the safety of Olive Ridley sea turtles, said forest officials.
Around a dozen of sea-worthy vessels were also seized in the process since the November 1 enforcement of the sea-fishing ban, the official said.
Notably, the Odisha government has clamped a seven month trawl fishing ban along the 20 km stretch Dhamara-Devi river mouth from November 1 in view of the ensuing mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley marine turtles. However, the fishing prohibition remains enforced round the year in Gahirmatha as it is accorded the status of a marine sanctuary.
The species, accorded as schedule-1 animal under the Wildlife Protection Act for its highly threatened status, get entangled in the nets for prolonged periods and die of asphyxiation. The turtles also perish in large numbers after getting hit by the fast-moving propeller of the fishing trawlers, officials said.
