19 fishermen held for sneaking into turtle habitation zone
19 fishermen held for sneaking into turtle habitation zone
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Kendrapada: On Monday, forest officers apprehended 19 sea-going fishermen for their involvement in illegal fishing activity inside the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Odisha's Kendrapada district.
They were found with four quintals of sea fish, 22 fishing nets, and four GPS gadgets.
The forest patrol crew also captured two trawlers the intruders used to fish along the banned sanctuary region. "The suspects were arrested in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972." "They were produced in Rajnagar court and held in judicial custody after their bail applications were denied," said a forest officer.
Notably, the region has been designated a no-entry zone since November 1 in order to preserve endangered Olive Ridley turtles during their mass breeding season.
The Forest Department had ordered fishermen not to venture into the sea within 20 kilometers of the shoreline covering 1,435 square kilometers of sea from Hukitola to Dhamra in order to allow the mating of Olive Ridley turtles.
From November 1 to May 31, the Odisha government has imposed a seven-month ban on fishing activities to ensure that turtles do not become entangled in fishing nets or become entangled in trawlers during their breeding season.
Sections 2, 4, and 7 of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982, as well as provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, govern the ban.
