Kendrapada: Odisha’s forest department officials Tuesday seized two seaworthy fishing trawlers and apprehended 19 people for fishing illegally inside the Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, an official said.
The action was taken during routine patrolling by the Gahirmatha Wildlife Range staff, when the trawlers were spotted about 4 km from Madeli Mouth allegedly using trawling and gill nets.
The occupants failed to produce valid documents or permission for entering the protected area and carrying out fishing, the official said.
The seizure included two trawlers, two GPS sets, two VHF sets, 10 trawling nets, 11 gill nets and around 40 kg of marine fish, they said.
Two wildlife offence cases have been registered against them.
The fishing prohibition remains enforced round the year in Gahirmatha, which has been accorded the status of marine sanctuary.
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