Kendrapara: In the latest crackdown on illegal fishing, the Coast Guard today nabbed 57 sea-going fishermen on charge trespassing into prohibited Gahirmatha marine sanctuary and carrying out fishing activity in turtles concentration zones.
A couple of days back, the Coast Guard personnel, in the largest-ever interception in a day, had nabbed 139 sea-going fishermen for undertaking unlawful fishing activity in the marine sanctuary in Odisha s Kendrapara district.
With the latest interception, 196 sea-going fishermen have been taken into custody since past 72 hours.
Ten fishing trawls used by the intruders for fishing along the prohibited sanctuary area were seized by the patrolling unit which had boarded on coast guard ship Sarojini Naidu.
The interception took place near Satabhaya coast about 11 nautical miles from Paradip coast, said Coast Guard Commandant Ashis.
The Coast Guard has done a commendable job to ensure the safety of turtle as the marine species are killed by being ensnared in fishing nets and or by hit by trawls propellers.
They are being forwarded to jail custody under Section-27 & 29 of the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, said Gahirmatha Forest Range Officer, Subrat Patra.