Paradip, Sept. 16: Forest personnel have taken into custody 15 fishermen for unlawful fishing along the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.

The arrested fishermen are from Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district, said a forest official. Three fishing trawlers, used by the accused along the prohibited marine sanctuary limits, were seized by the patrolling unit engaged by forest department from Ekakulanasi Island.

There is a fishing ban round the year within the limits of the marine sanctuary. Sea patrolling is stepped up within the sanctuary during September-May every year in view of the annual mass nesting of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles.

The fishing vessels had entered the prohibited sanctuary corridors contravening the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act and rules of the marine sanctuary. They were forwarded to jail today, said a forest official.

Some 167 fishing trawlers were seized from the sanctuary during turtle nesting season (September 1-May 31) and 348 fishermen were taken into custody.

The fishermen have been warned not to venture into the marine sanctuary area even though the turtle-nesting season is over.

Though the ban remains in force around the year, many fishermen have the idea that it only remains in force when the turtles come.

Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya said the fishing communities have been sensitised on the restrictions on human activities in the marine sanctuary. Nearly 60,000 turtles had arrived at the Nasi-2 nesting ground during March 16-23 to lay eggs.