Kendrapara: The Coast Guard and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary personnel Wednesday intercepted two fishing vessels and arrested 23 fishermen on the charges of catching fish illegally after trespassing into the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
The forest personnel also seized 2.5 quintals of fish catch and fishing equipment, said Srirampad Arabinda Mishra, ACF of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
While the forest personnel of Gahitrmatha were conducting sea surveillance with the help of Coast Guard they came across a couple of Dhamra-based fishing vessels. The patrolling team intercepted the vessels and made the arrests.
All the arrested men were later produced in the Rajnagar JMFC court and remanded into jail custody, said Patra.
PNN