15 sea-going fishermen taken to custody

Kendrapara (Odisha), Sep 17 (PTI) Fifteen fishermen havebeen taken into custody by Forest Department personnel in amid-sea interception of unlawful fishing activity along theGahirmatha marine sanctuary in Odisha. Three fishing trawlers were seized along the prohibitedmarine sanctuary area near unmanned Ekakulanasi Islandyesterday by the patrolling unit engaged by the ForestDepartment, a forest official said. Prohibition on sea fishing remains in force round the yearwithin the marine sanctuary limits. Sea patrolling is stepped up within Gahirmatha marinesanctuary water territory during September-May every year inview of the annual mass nesting season of endangered OliveRidley sea turtles. The arrested fishermen are native of Paradip inJagatsinghpur district, the official said. The fishing vessels had trespassed into prohibitedsanctuary corridors flouting the provisions of the WildlifeProtection Act, Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act andmandatory rules of marine sanctuary, they said. They were sent to jail custody today. Earlier, 167 fishing trawlers were seized from Gahirmathaarea during turtle nesting season (September 1-May 31) and 348fishermen were taken into custody. The crew of fishing vessels and marine fishermencommunities have been warned not to venture into marinesanctuary area even though turtle nesting season is over. PTICOR SKN SUSDIP