Paradip, Jan. 12: Crews of trawlers today attacked two patrol vessels of the forest department in the prohibited seawaters of Gahirmatha sanctuary.

About two dozen forest personnel were reportedly held hostage for over an hour by the trawler operators.

The forest vessels were engaged in annual turtle protection drive when a fleet of trawlers chased the patrol vessels.

As the crews of patrol vessels were outnumbered by them, the patrolling units beat a hasty retreat from the spot leaving behind one of the vessels, said sources.

The patrolling units had sighted about 15 intruding vessels illegally fishing in prohibited zones, said a forest official.

Divisional forest officer of Rajnagar Mangrove forest division Kedar Kumar Swain said: “The crews of the rogue vessels were in belligerent mood as the patrolling staff asked them to give in. Later, they cordoned the patrol vessels and threatened to attack it. The patrolling staff have been brought back safely to onshore base camp. The department officials have rushed to tow the patrol vessel back to the shore.”

To curb high mortality of the turtles, the state government has prohibited fishing activity within a seaward radius of 20km from Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from November 1 every year in accordance with sections 2, 7 & 4 of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982.