Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary forest personnel today arrested 32 fishermen for catching fish illegally in the no fishing zone of the sanctuary and seized four fishing vessels from their possession. Rajnagar Mangrove Forest and Wildlife Division DFO Bimal Prasanna Acharya said the forest personnel also seized five VHF sets, 3 Fish finder machines, four GPS, 22 fishing nets and 1.5 quintal of fish catch from their possessions. All the four fishing trawlers were pressed by the fishermen catching fish illegally near Babubali within Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Fishing is banned in 20 KM area of the sea in the sanctuary area from November 1 to May 31 to protect the Olive Ridley turtles, an endangered species who reported in lakhs for mass nesting at Gahirmatha beach . Out of the 32 fishermen arrested while 18 fishermen belonged to Bhadrak district 8 fishermen were from Balesore, five from Kendrapara and one belonged to Purba Medinipur district . All the 32 arrested fishermen were booked under Section 27, 29, 31 of Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972 and punishable under Section -51 of the said Act would be produced before the local court on Thursday, With this, as many as 52 fishing vessels, including eight mechanised gill netters, were seized and 377 fishermen were arrested by forest personnel during the current turtle season.