Kendrapara, Oct 5: At least seven fishermen were arrested for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing inside the Gahiramatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapara district. The Forest Department has arrested the fishermen and seized seven trawlers from them.

According to the report, Forest Officials from Barunei Section under the Shasanipeta Gahiramatha Wildlife Range conducted a raid in the Sanctuary area and caught the fishermen while fishing illegally.

The officials also confiscated VHF sets, GPS devices, fish finders, various types of fishing nets and approximately 10 quintals of fish from the vessels.

The arrested fishermen are reportedly residents of Balasore district. Further investigation into the illegal fishing activity is underway.