24 Fishermen Arrested for Illegal Fishing in Chilika Lake Sanctuary in Odisha

Twenty four fishermen were arrested after they were allegedly caught fishing inside the prohibited Nalabana Wildlife Sanctuary in Chilika Lake in Odisha's Khurda district. Forest officials said the operation was carried out during a routine patrol on Thursday, leading to the seizure of three mechanised boats, engines, bamboo oars, fishing nets, thermocol boxes and around 23 kg of fish.

According to Chilika Wildlife Division Divisional Forest Officer Amlan Nayak, the fishermen failed to produce any valid authorisation permitting entry into the protected sanctuary. Wildlife officials later found that they had knowingly entered the restricted zone in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Balugaon Wildlife Range Officer Rasmita Jena said the patrol team intercepted three mechanised boats inside the sanctuary during Thursday afternoon's operation. "During the investigation, forest officers found that the accused fishermen had trespassed into the sanctuary area. They knew that they were violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 by entering the prohibited zone," she said.

The accused are residents of Balipatapur and Chandrapur villages. Three separate cases have been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, and further investigation is underway.

Officials warned that illegal fishing in the sanctuary threatens the fragile ecosystem by disturbing migratory and resident birds and damaging aquatic habitats. Spread across 15.53 square kilometres, Nalabana is one of Chilika Lake's most important bird habitats and remains off limits to unauthorised fishing activities. The latest arrests come just two months after wildlife officials booked 11 fishermen for a similar offence, highlighting intensified enforcement inside the protected wetland.