Five arrested for fishing in marine sanctuary
February 21st, 2010 - 11:44 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, Feb 21 (IANS) At least five fishermen were arrested Sunday for fishing at the prohibited area of a world famous turtle nesting site in Orissa, officials said.
The fishermen were arrested for fishing at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapada district, 175 km from here where at least 700,000-800,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles come every winter for mass nesting.
“We have arrested five fishermen and seized a trawler which they used in fishing,” Divisional Forest Officer P.K Behera told IANS.
“Now mass mating in the water is already over. Sporadic nesting has been reported. The turtles may start mass nesting any time,” he said.
With Sunday’s arrests, the total number of people taken into custody since Nov 1 has risen to 81 and number of boats seized for operating illegally within the sanctuary area has risen to 15, he said.
The state government has banned all fishing activities from Nov 1 to May 1, within the 20 km off the coast at Gahirmatha, to protect the endangered sea turtle species.
- 10 held for fishing near turtle nesting site - Jan 08, 2011
- 15 held for fishing near famous turtle nesting site - Jan 25, 2010
- Eight Orissa men held for fishing at turtle nesting site - Nov 10, 2009
- Olive Ridleys may delay mass nesting at Odisha beach - Feb 03, 2012
- Five arrested for fishing at turtle nesting site - Dec 14, 2009
- 60 dead turtles wash up on Orissa beach - Nov 25, 2009
- Orissa bans fishing near turtle nesting sites - Nov 01, 2011
- 50,000 endangered turtles nest in Odisha's Rushikulya beach - Mar 01, 2012
- Orissa bans fishing near turtle nesting sites - Nov 01, 2010
- As rare Olive Ridleys mate, Orissa mounts vigil - Dec 21, 2010
- 170,000 Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs in Orissa's Gahirmatha - Mar 06, 2010
- 1,000 endangered turtles found dead in Orissa beach - Jan 27, 2010
- West Bengal fishermen held for fishing at turtle site - Feb 08, 2009
- Orissa sets up camps to protect nesting turtles - Oct 28, 2010
- TATA tries to silence critics, takes Greenpeace to court - Jul 23, 2010
Tags: behera, bhubaneswar, boats, fishing, five fishermen, forest officer, marine sanctuary, may 1, nov 1, olive ridley turtles, orissa, sea turtle, sea turtle species, state government, trawler, turtle, turtles