Nine Fishermen Apprehended for Violating Marine Sanctuary Ban
In a significant enforcement action, forest department officials have arrested nine fishermen from Balasore district for engaging in illegal fishing activities within the protected waters of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapada. The arrests occurred on Sunday when authorities intercepted the fishing vessel operating inside the ecologically sensitive zone.
The forest team confiscated the fishing trawler along with 30 kilograms of illegally caught fish, multiple fishing nets, and sophisticated navigation equipment that facilitated the prohibited operations within the sanctuary boundaries.
Substantial Evidence Seized During Operation
Kapilendra Pradhan, the forest range officer of Gahirmatha, provided detailed information about the confiscated items. "We recovered 10 fishing nets, a GPS device, two VHF communication sets, and a fish finder from the trawler," stated Pradhan, emphasizing the scale of the illegal operation.
The identified fishermen facing legal action include Naren Majhi, Suresh Majhi, Yudhistir Khatua, Sudarshan Mallick, Makar Tarai, Ajaya Behera, Gayadhar Das, Niranjan Khatua and Kamalakanta Mallick. All nine individuals have been formally charged under multiple sections of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Judicial Proceedings and Conservation Context
The legal process moved swiftly as the arrested fishermen were presented before a court in Rajnagar on Thursday. The court rejected their bail applications and ordered them into judicial custody, reflecting the seriousness with which the authorities are treating violations within the protected marine area.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between fishing communities and conservation efforts in Gahirmatha, which serves as the world's largest nesting ground for endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles. To protect these vulnerable creatures during their breeding season, the government has implemented an annual fishing ban extending from November 1 to May 31 across the sanctuary's 1,435 square kilometer area stretching from Hukitola to Dhamra.
Forest officer Pradhan revealed that since the ban took effect on November 1, a total of 33 fishermen have been arrested and three fishing boats seized in various enforcement actions within Gahirmatha waters.
Conservation Success Amidst Challenges
The strict protective measures appear to be yielding positive results for turtle conservation. Pradhan shared encouraging data indicating that between March 5 and March 10, approximately 606,933 Olive Ridley turtles successfully laid eggs on the Nasi-1, Nasi-2 and Eakakulanasi islands within the marine sanctuary.
To clearly demarcate the protected zone and prevent accidental intrusions, forest officials have placed 14 buoys in the sea around the sanctuary perimeter. Fishermen have been explicitly directed to maintain a distance of at least 20 kilometers from the coastline when operating near the marine protected area.
This enforcement action underscores the ongoing challenges in balancing ecological conservation with traditional fishing practices while working to protect one of India's most significant marine biodiversity hotspots.
