The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary personnel, while conducting surveillance, on Saturday wee hours intercepted three fishing vessels in the prohibited zone and arrested 16 crew members.
Ranger Subrat Kumar Patra informed that two fishing trawlers were spotted near Hukitola in the no fishing zone of the sanctuary. The duo trawlers, Ramchandi-1 and Ramchandi Varasa, belong to the Paradip base.
The forest personnel also seized another fishing trawler near Satabhaya. The seized trawler “Maa Mangala” was from Kasafala.
The 16 crew members arrested include 10 fishermen of Suniti under Kendrapada district and six others from Baleswar. They seized one quintal of fish catch, 16 fishing nets, 3 VHF sets, 3 fish finder equipment and three GPS, said Patra.
This is the second seizure of the fishing vessels by the Bhitarkanika forest personnel in the ongoing turtle season for unlawful intrusion into water territory prohibited for fishing operation.
Notably, the prohibition has been imposed on the water of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary since November 1 for safety of hundreds of mating pairs of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles now sighted at Satabhaya and Habalikhati.