Forest personnel of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary arrested nine fishermen separately in Tuesday wee hour for catching fish illegally after trespassing into the prohibitory zone of the sanctuary.
The forest officials while patrolling at the sanctuary for the protection of Olive Ridley turtles intercepted two fishing vessels used for catching fish. The team also seized 12 quintals fish catch and 11 fishing nets and other fishing equipments from the trawlers.
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Ranger Subrat Kumar Patra said a forest team arrested five fishermen from a fishing vessel and seized eight quintals of fish catch, six nets and other fishing equipments. The five arrested are from Baleswar district.
The team also seized a fishing vessel near Agarnashi and arrested four fishermen. They recovered four quintals fish catch and five fishing nets from their possessions. The arrested persons belong to Mahakalapada block in Kendrapada district.
All fishermen were later produced before the Rajnagar JMFC Court, from where they were remanded into judicial custody after their bail petitions were rejected by the court.