Coast Guard apprehends two fishing boats of Gahirmatha coast�

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Bhubaneswar, Feb 5 (PTI) Indian Coast Guard Ship RaziaSultana apprehended two fishing boats found fishing inprohibited area of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctury in Orissa''sKendrapara district.

The coast guard personnel found the two fishing boatswhile carrying out Operation Olivia, a mission to protect thevisiting Olive Ridley Turtles.

The seized boats were identified as Jagat Janani andMaa Subhadra of Balasore district.

������This is the second such seizure by the Coast Guard Shipin the last fortnight, said Commandant Saroj Kumar Sahu,Commander Coast Guard Orissa.

These two boats were handed over to Forest� RangeOfficer� Mahakalpada by the Coast Guard Ship for prosecutionunder Wild Life Protection Act 1972.

������Commandant Sahu has appealed to all the fishing boatcooperative societies, associations, owners and skippers ofboats to cooperate with all the government agencies andrefrain from fishing in the prohibited area during thisenforcement period which is till May 31.

Fishing in the prohibited area was banned in order topave the way for the visiting turtles to lay eggs atGahirmtha beach.