19 fishermen taken to custody

Ninteen fishermen were taken into custody today for allegedly carrying out illegal fishing activity along the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary, a prohibited breeding zone of the endangered olive ridley sea turtles.
Four fishing trawls used by the intruders for fishing along the prohibited breeding zones of the endangered marine animals were seized by the patrolling unit engaged by forest department for conservation of olive ridley sea turtles near unmanned Ekakulanasi.
The arrested fishermen were natives of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara district, said officials.
The fishing vessels had trespassed into prohibited sanctuary corridors contravening the provisions of wildlife protection act, Orissa Marine fishing regulation act and mandatory rules of marine sanctuary.

They were sent to jail today under the Section 27 & 29 of the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, said forest officials.