34 Fishermen Arrested for Illegal Trawling in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
Kendrapara, (Dec 7, 2025): Forest officials in Odisha have arrested 34 fishermen and seized two trawlers for illegally fishing inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, a protected zone renowned as the world’s largest nesting ground for endangered Olive Ridley turtles.
According to Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Manas Das, patrol teams intercepted the trawlers operating within restricted corridors over the past 48 hours.
The fishermen, hailing from Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, were charged under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act. They have been remanded to judicial custody.
This year alone, nearly 200 fishermen have been arrested for similar violations in the turtle congregation zone.
The Odisha government has imposed a seven-month ban on trawler fishing along the 20-km Dhamara–Devi river mouth stretch beginning November 1, coinciding with the mass nesting season of Olive Ridley turtles.
Forest officials emphasised that restrictions are enforced year-round in Gahirmatha to safeguard marine biodiversity. Patrols will continue to monitor the sanctuary closely during this critical nesting period.
