Six fishermen held for illegal fishing in Gahirmatha

Forest personnel today arrested six fishermen and seized a motorised boat in a fresh crackdown on illegal fishing in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Odisha's Kendrapara district.
The fishermen were caught by the patrolling unit of the forest department near uninhabited Babuballi Island, officials said.
Prohibition on sea fishing within the marine sanctuary limits remains in force throughout the year and fishing vessels and marine fishermen communities have been warned not to venture into marine sanctuary area even though the nesting season of the Olive Ridley turtles is over.
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, they said.

The arrested fishermen, who hail from Balramgadi village in Bhadrak district, were produced before the court and forwarded to jail custody, they added.