Five arrested for fishing at turtle nesting site

BHUBANESWAR - Five men fishing in a prohibited area at a world famous turtle nesting site in Orissa have been arrested, taking the total number of arrests to 49 this winter, officials said Monday.

The fishermen were caught Sunday at the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in the coastal district of Kendrapada, where 700,000-800,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles nest every winter.

“We have also seized the boat they used,” Divisional Forest Officer P.K Behera told IANS.

The Gahirmatha marine sanctuary is about 175 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.