34 Marine Fishers Arrested for Illegal Fishing in Gahirmatha Turtle Habitat

Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: Forest officials have arrested 34 marine fishermen and seized two fishing trawls from the waters of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district for allegedly fishing illegally within the protected turtle congregation zone, an official said on Sunday.

The arrests were made over the last 48 hours during intensified patrols to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, which arrive annually for mass nesting.

Assistant Conservator of Forest Manas Das said the apprehended fishers are residents of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts. All have been remanded to judicial custody.

The fishing vessels had reportedly trespassed into restricted sanctuary corridors, violating provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, and rules governing the marine sanctuary.

With these latest arrests, the total number of fishermen detained this season for intruding into the protected zone has climbed to around 200, officials said. The Forest Department is maintaining strict vigilance to ensure the safety of Olive Ridley turtles during their breeding and nesting period.

Seven-Month Trawl Ban in Effect

The state government has enforced a seven-month ban on mechanised trawl fishing along the 20-km Dhamara–Devi river mouth stretch from November 1, ahead of the peak nesting season. Fishing remains prohibited throughout the year inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, which holds the status of a protected marine habitat.

Forest personnel noted that Olive Ridley turtles—classified as Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act due to their threatened status—often die after getting entangled in fishing nets or being struck by fast-moving trawler propellers.

The Forest Department has reiterated that stringent action will continue against violators to safeguard the globally significant nesting grounds of the Olive Ridley turtles.