Nine fishermen held off Odisha coast

Odisha Channel Bureau Kendrapara, Jan 5: Nine marine fishermen were arrested this morning for sneaking into the prohibited Gahirmatha marine sanctuary sea corridors, which is a congenial breeding zone of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.Wildlife protection wing of the state forest department intercepted the seaworthy fishing vessel and took into custody the crews.The marine sanctuary has been presently kept out of bounds for sea-fishing activity to ensure the safe sojourn of turtles in deep sea.The marine animals perish in large numbers getting entangled in fishing nets. The fishing vessel had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors contravening the provisions of wildlife protection act, Orissa Marine fishing regulation act and mandatory rules of marine sanctuary.The crews of the fishing vessels tried to flee.But the speed motorized vessels of the protection squad intercepted them with consummate ease.The trespassers did not offer resistance and tamely surrendered, said an official of Gahirmatha forest range.The crackdown of unlawful sea fishing has been stepped up in an attempt to make the turtles’ concentration zone from human interference.Nine traditional marine fishermen who formed the crew of the impounded vessel were from Balasore district.They were later forwarded to jail custody under the Section 27 & 29 of the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, said forest officials.