Forest Officials Attacked by Fishermen Fishing in Prohibited Area of Gahirmatha Sanctuary

Bhubaneswar: A group of forest officials were attacked by fishermen fishing illegally in the prohibited areas of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district.

The forest officials faced the attack at the Mahanadi river mouth near Hukitola in the sanctuary.

To ensure the safety of Olive ridleys during their mating and mass nesting season, a fishing ban has been enforced in the area.

An eleven-member team of forest officials patrolling the area in a boat located around 15-20 trawlers fishing in the prohibited zone. When the forest officials ordered them to stop fishing and leave the prohibited area, the fishermen allegedly attacked the forest department staff.

Although outnumbered by the fishermen, the forest officials managed to escape by threatening them with their service guns. The matter was reported at the Dhamra Marine Police Station.

Odisha government bans fishing for seven months along the 20-km stretch of the Dhamra-Hukitola river mouth in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary every year from November to May for safe mating, nesting and hatching of Olive Ridley sea turtles.