10 months ago
16 Fishermen Arrested in Odisha's Gahirmatha Turtle Sanctuary
Imagine a special place in the ocean where sea turtles come to nest and rest, like a protected neighborhood.
Some fishermen, who usually catch fish to make a living, went into this special neighborhood with their big fishing boats.
This is not allowed because the fishing boats and nets can accidentally hurt or even kill the turtles.
The ocean police or forest rangers caught 16 fishermen doing this.
They took away the fishing boat and arrested the fishermen.
This happened because there's a rule to stop fishing in this area for most of the year, and especially for seven months every year, to keep the turtles safe.
The turtles are very important and need protection because they are endangered.
16 marine fishermen were arrested by forest officials in Odisha's Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.
The fishermen were apprehended for illegally fishing within a protected turtle congregation zone.
Their fishing trawl vessel was seized by forest patrol teams.
The arrests were made in violation of wildlife protection and marine sanctuary regulations.
A fishing ban is in effect year-round in Gahirmatha and for seven months along the Dhamara-Devi river mouth to protect endangered Olive Ridley turtles.
- Who
- 16 marine fishermen from Bhadrak and Balasore districts
- What
- Arrested for illegally fishing in a protected turtle habitat and having their fishing trawl seized.
- Where
- Sea waters of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, Odisha's Kendrapara district
- When
- Thursday
- Why
- Contravention of wildlife protection act, Orissa Marine fishing regulation act, and marine sanctuary rules during a fishing prohibition period meant to protect endangered Olive Ridley turtles.
Fishermen
Forest Officials
Fishing Activity
Fishermen
The fishermen were engaged in fishing, which is their livelihood.
Forest Officials
The fishermen were illegally fishing within a prohibited turtle congregation zone, contravening wildlife protection and marine sanctuary regulations.
Sanctuary Regulations
Fishermen
Fishermen may not be fully aware of or may find it difficult to adhere to the strict fishing bans in the sanctuary.
Forest Officials
The Gahirmatha marine sanctuary has a year-round fishing prohibition and a seven-month log trawl fishing ban (November to May) along a 20 km stretch to protect endangered Olive Ridley turtles.
Key facts
- Number of Fishermen Arrested
- 16
- Location of Arrest
- Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, Odisha's Kendrapara district
- Origin of Fishermen
- Bhadrak and Balasore districts
- Seized Item
- Sea-worthy fishing trawl
- Reason for Arrest
- Illegal fishing within turtle congregation zone
- Fishing Prohibition Period
- Seven months (Nov 1 to May 31) along Dhamara-Devi river mouth; year-round in Gahirmatha
- Protected Species
- Olive Ridley marine turtles (Schedule-1 animal)
Quotes
Assistant Conservator of Forest, Manas Das
Assistant Conservator of Forest
“The intruders who were arrested are the marine fishermen of the Bhadrak and Balasore districts. They were later remanded to judicial custody”
thestatesman.com
the forest officer
a forest officer
“The fishing vessel had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors contravening the provisions of wildlife protection act, Orissa Marine fishing regulation act and mandatory rules of marine sanctuary”
thestatesman.com
forest personnel
forest personnel
“The mute species, accorded as schedule-1 animal under wildlife protection act for its highly threatened status, get entangled in the nets for prolonged periods and die of asphyxiation. The turtles also perish in large numbers after getting hit by the fast moving propeller of the fishing trawlers”
thestatesman.com
