Bhubaneswar: In a continued effort to protect the endangered olive ridley sea turtles, authorities in Kendrapara district have arrested seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh for illegally operating within the protected waters of the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.

The arrests were made on Tuesday after the fishermen, hailing from Vizianagaram district, were found fishing in the designated turtle congregation zone. Officials confirmed the seizure of their trawler and all fishing equipment. A local court has since remanded the seven individuals to judicial custody for violations under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

This latest interception is part of a broader enforcement campaign. With these seven arrests, the total number of fishermen apprehended for intruding into the sanctuary since No

See Full Page