Home / Environment / Poachers Seized in Turtle Sanctuary Raid
Poachers Seized in Turtle Sanctuary Raid
1 Jan
Summary
- Ten fishermen were arrested and their equipment seized.
- Vessels trespassed into sanctuary corridors, violating wildlife laws.
- 367 fishermen arrested since November 1 for sanctuary intrusion.
Ten fishermen hailing from Vizianagaram district have been arrested for violating wildlife protection laws by trespassing into prohibited marine sanctuary corridors. Their fishing equipment was seized, and they have been remanded to judicial custody. This incident highlights the ongoing enforcement efforts to protect endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.
The state government has imposed a seven-month trawl fishing ban along a 20 km stretch from November 1, coinciding with the mass nesting season of Olive Ridley turtles. However, the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary maintains a year-round fishing prohibition to ensure the species' safety.
Olive Ridley turtles, classified as a Schedule-1 animal due to their threatened status, face significant risks from fishing activities, including entanglement in nets and collisions with fishing trawlers. Since the enforcement of the sea-fishing ban on November 1, 367 fishermen have been arrested, and approximately a dozen vessels have been seized.
