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Three trawlers from Andhra seized

BERHAMPUR: ‘Coast Guard’ on Wednesday seized three trawlers from Andhra Pradesh which had illegally entered the Orissa coast and were found to be fishing in no fishing zone near Rushikulya rookery.

It may be noted that fishing is banned in sea near Rushikulya river mouth from Nov. 1 to protect the endangered Olive ridley turtles. Olive ridleys usually start their mating at sea from November near this coast which is preferred by them for nesting. Mating usually continues till January.

To protect these rare turtles fishing is banned in this area from beginning of November till the return of hatched baby turtles into the sea from the coast.

Olive ridley turtles although in small number have started arriving for their mating in sea near this coast.

According to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Berhampur, A.K.Jena at around 2.30 p.m. the coast guards patrolling the Ganjam coast in a vessel named ‘Sarojini Naidu’ came across the three Andhra trawlers which were fishing illegally in the banned area. They had also made illegal entry into Orissa coast.

The coast guards seized the three trawlers and took around 20 persons into custody.

A team of forest officials and police had started for the spot to take over the seized trawlers and arrested fishermen from the coast guards.

It may be noted that the Ganjam district Traditional Fish Workers’ Union has several times in the past complained the State government about the menace of illegal entry of Andhra trawlers. They allege that these trawlers are a major cause behind death of turtles in sea.

These traditional fishermen have also themselves seized some Andhra trawlers from sea in the past.

It may be noted that the 15 kilometer shore line from Prayagi to Purunabandh near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district is one of the preferred locations for nesting in the world.

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