Gahirmatha beach. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Jan. 25: Twenty-three fishermen, including some suspected Bangladeshis, were today arrested from the sea off the Gahirmatha coast for violating maritime fishing restrictions.

Three fishing vessels, besides a fishing tackle and a walkie-talkie set were seized from the “trespassers”. Fishing in the 20km area of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary is prohibited to ensure the safety of the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles whose mass nesting is expected to take place in the area shortly.

Fishing restrictions become necessary in view of the fact that thousands of turtles get killed every year on the coast after getting caught in the nets of fishing trawlers and mechanised boats. Many turtles also succumb to the hits of trawlers’ propellers.

The fishermen, who violated the fishing restrictions, were intercepted by a joint patrol team of forest department and coast guard in the prohibited area of the sanctuary. Ever since restrictions were imposed on marine fishing on November 1, 2010, 105 fishermen and crewmembers of fishing vessels have been taken into custody. At least 15 trawlers have also been seized during this period.

“Today’s arrest and seizure was made in accordance with Sections 2, 5, 7 of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982, and under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” said Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division.

“The arrested fishermen are being interrogated. Their nativity and antecedents are also being thoroughly checked. Some of them are migrant Bengali-speaking fishermen,” said sources in the police department.