The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary has received two sea worthy interceptors for engaging them round the year for safety and protection measures.
With an aim to provide security to the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles by restricting illegal trawl fishing during the turtle nesting season, conserving the fauna from the poachers, besides restricting cross border activities via sea route, the State Government provided the two modern technology- based interceptor vessels, informed DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya.
The vessels on Sunday reached at Sasanpeta within the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, after they came to Paradip. The personnel of Gahirmatha would take possession of them shortly after the completion of formalities, said Ranger Subrat Kumar Patra.
The interceptor vessels, namely Gahirmatha-I and Gahirmatha -II, were procured from Mumbai-based Mahindra Marine limited each costing Rs 3 crore. They are eco-friendly soundless fibre speed vessels equipped with foolproof safety mechanism and will be deployed for patrolling in 1,435 square km of Gahirmatha sanctuary area round the year. They would also be engaged in sea surveillance to curb down cross border activities like restricting Bangladeshi influx via sea route to the coastal villages and also to prevent smuggling of contraband items and PDS goods to Bangladesh, added Patra.