As part of its annual mission “Operation Olivia” to ensure safe mid-sea sojourn of breeding Olive Ridley sea turtles in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary area, the Coast Guard personnel in last 24 hours have intercepted four fishing vessels for catching fish illegally.
These trawlers were found in the no fishing zone within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary 8 km off Satabhaya coast, informed Ranger Subrat Kumar Patra.
The Coast Guard personnel also nabbed 32 fishermen from the four seized fishing vessels and seized 12 quintals of fish catch and fishing equipment like 28 fishing nets, VHF, GPS, fish finder from their possessions, added Patra.
later, the Coast Guard personnel handed over the arrested fishermen and the intercepted fishing vessels and other seized items to the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary personnel. The Coast Guard personnel used CGS Sarojini Naidu in patrolling and chasing the fishing trawlers.
All the intercepted fishing vessels belong to Kasafala base whereas the 32 arrested fishermen were the inhabitants of Baleswar district.
According to Ranger Patra, hundreds of mating pair of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles have recently been sighted at Satabhaya and Habalikhati. The mating would continue till mid-January.