Forest officials in Odisha, on Thursday, arrested 10 marine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh for allegedly fishing within the prohibited turtle congregation zone of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district.
The fishermen, hailing from the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, were found operating two fishing vessels inside the sanctuary’s protected corridors.
Officials seized their fishing equipment and vessels before remanding the group to judicial custody.
According to a forest official, the fishermen were charged with violating the Wildlife Protection Act, the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, and specific sanctuary bylaws.
The latest interception brings the total number of arrests to 367 marine fishermen since the commencement of the current enforcement season. To date, approximately 12 sea-worthy vessels have been impounded as the Forest Department intensifies its efforts to safeguard the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.
While the Odisha government imposes a seven-month ban on trawl fishing along the 20 km stretch from the Dhamara to the Devi river mouth starting November 1, fishing is strictly prohibited year-round within Gahirmatha due to its status as a designated marine sanctuary.
The Olive Ridley turtle is classified as a Schedule-1 animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, reflecting its highly threatened status. Conservationists emphasise that these turtles are particularly vulnerable to commercial fishing; they often become entangled in nets and die from asphyxiation or suffer fatal injuries from the high-speed propellers of trawlers.
The significance of these protection measures was underscored during the March 2025 nesting season, when more than 6.06 lakh Olive Ridley turtles arrived at the sanctuary’s beaches to lay millions of eggs, marking a successful annual sojourn for the species.
