The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary personnel engaged in mid sea surveillance, on Saturday arrested 36 fishermen for “illegally” catching fish after trespassing into he “No Fishing zone”. The forest personnel intercepted as many as five fishing vessels near Madali mouth inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. They also seized 29 quintals of fish catch along with 47 trawler nets, one dead Olive Ridley sea turtle, 5 GPS, 5 fish finders and as many VHF sets from the arrested fishermen According to Bikash Ranjan Dash, DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and wildlife division, the forest personnel had in recent days intensified sea patrolling to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, especially in the ongoing turtle nesting season. On Friday, they came across around 20 fishing vessels fishing near Madali mouth. The forest team chased the trawlers and managed to intercept five of them. All the arrested fishermen were booked under Section 27, 29 and 31 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act,1972 and were produced before the JMFC court of Rajnagar which remanded into custody after rejecting their bail applications. The State Fishery (Marine )Department has imposed prohibition on catching fish at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary from November 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. The prohibition was effected in accordance with provisions of Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Orissa Marine Fishing Rules, 1983 to protect the endangered Olive Ridley Sea turtles at Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the DFO said.