The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary personnel arrested 17 fishermen on Wednesday and seized two fishing vessels on the charges of catching fish illegally in the No fishing zone of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. The forest personnel also seized 10 Quintals of fish catch and other fish catching equipment and fishing nets from their possessions, ACF-cum-Range in-charge of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Srirampada Arabinda Mishra said here today. All the arrested fishermen were booked under various section of wildlife Protection Act and produced before the JMFC court of Rajnagar today. The judge remanded into jail custody after rejecting their bail pleas. Prohibition on catching fish at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary has been imposed by the state fishery (Marine )Department inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary of Kendrapara district from November 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019 to protect the endangered Olive Ridley Sea turtles.