The patrolling wing of the state forest department today took five fishermen into custody on charge of trespassing into turtle concentration zone of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, official sources said.
This is the first interception of unlawful marine fishing after the seven-month ban was imposed on it on November 1 in view of mid-sea seasonal nesting of highly threatened Olive Ridley sea turtles.
The deep-sea trawlers used by the accused fishermen for fishing near Habelikhati Island within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary was seized by the protection squad.
The vessels had trespassed into the prohibited sanctuary corridors violating the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act and mandatory rules of marine sanctuary, said forest officials.
The state government has clamped a ban on trawler fishing along the 20 km stretch of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from November 1 in view of the ensuing mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley turtles.
The imposition of prohibitory order was in accordance with sections 2,3 and 4 of Orissa Maine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA).
The Olive Ridley turtles, accorded as schedule-1 animal under the Wildlife Protection Act for its highly threatened status, get entangled in the nets for prolonged period and die of asphyxiation. The turtles also perish in large numbers after getting hit by the propellers of fishing trawlers, forest personnel added.
