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Fishermen Arrested for Illegal Fishing in Turtle Sanctuary
7 Mar
Summary
- Eight marine fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing activities.
- A seized trawler contained 8.5 quintals of fish and fishing equipment.
- Gahirmatha sanctuary protects Olive Ridley sea turtles during nesting.
Forest officials apprehended eight marine fishermen late on Thursday night for illegally fishing inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Their fishing trawler, loaded with 8.5 quintals of fish, was also confiscated, along with essential fishing equipment like a GPS device and fishing nets.
The fishermen were subsequently booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and produced in court on Friday. Their bail pleas were denied, and they were remanded to judicial custody. Fishing is strictly prohibited within 20 km of the coastline inside the 1,435 sq km sanctuary, which extends from Hukitola to Dhamra.
A yearly fishing ban is enforced from November 1 to May 31 to safeguard endangered marine species. Since the current ban started on November 1, authorities have arrested 345 fishermen and seized 38 vessels. A significant amount of fish, totaling 3,315.30 quintals, has also been confiscated during this period.
Established as a marine sanctuary in 1997, Gahirmatha is vital for the nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles. In a recent observed period between March 5 and March 10, an estimated 606,933 turtles nested on islands within the sanctuary.
