Nine arrested for illegal fishing in Gahirmatha – The Times of India

Enforcement Actions in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary Uphold Sustainable Development Goals

Incident Summary and Alignment with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

On Sunday, forest officials in Kendrapada arrested nine fishermen for conducting illegal fishing activities within the protected Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. This enforcement action demonstrates a commitment to the rule of law, a key component of SDG 16.

• Arrestees: Nine fishermen from the Balasore district, identified as Naren Majhi, Suresh Majhi, Yudhistir Khatua, Sudarshan Mallick, Makar Tarai, Ajaya Behera, Gayadhar Das, Niranjan Khatua and Kamalakanta Mallick.
• Charges: Booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Judicial Action: The fishermen were produced in a court at Rajnagar, denied bail, and remanded in judicial custody, reinforcing the effectiveness of legal institutions in environmental protection.

Conservation Measures and Contribution to SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

The arrests are part of a broader strategy to ensure the sustainable management of marine ecosystems, directly contributing to the targets of SDG 14.

1. Seasonal Fishing Ban: A comprehensive seven-month ban on fishing, from November 1 to May 31, is enforced to protect marine life during critical breeding seasons. This measure directly addresses SDG 14.4 by regulating harvesting and ending illegal fishing.
2. Protected Area Designation: The Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary covers 1,435 sq km, with fishing prohibited within 20 km of the coastline from Hukitola to Dhamra. This aligns with SDG 14.5, which calls for the conservation of coastal and marine areas.
3. Enforcement Statistics: Since November 1, a total of 33 fishermen have been arrested and three fishing boats seized, indicating consistent efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Protecting Endangered Species in Support of SDG 15 (Life on Land)

The primary objective of the sanctuary’s regulations is the protection of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle, a critical action for halting biodiversity loss as outlined in SDG 15.

• Global Significance: Gahirmatha is recognized as the world’s largest rookery for Olive Ridley sea turtles.
• Conservation Success: The fishing ban has yielded significant positive results, with officials reporting that 606,933 turtles successfully laid eggs between March 5 and March 10 on Nasi-1, Nasi-2 and Eakakulanasi islands. This outcome directly supports SDG 15.5, which aims to protect threatened species from extinction.

Seized Equipment and Interruption of Unsustainable Practices

The operation successfully disrupted illegal fishing activities through the confiscation of equipment used for unsustainable harvesting. This action reinforces the commitment to SDG 14.4.

• Vessel and Catch: One fishing trawler and 30kg of fish were seized.
• Fishing Gear: 10 fishing nets were confiscated.
• Navigational Devices: A GPS device, two VHF sets, and a fish finder were also seized from the vessel.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The article’s central theme is the conservation of marine life and ecosystems. It discusses the protection of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the enforcement of a fishing ban to protect endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, and actions against illegal fishing. This directly aligns with the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article details the enforcement of national laws, specifically the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The arrest of the fishermen, their appearance in court, and their remand into judicial custody demonstrate the functioning of justice and law enforcement institutions to combat illegal activities and uphold environmental regulations.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
  • The article highlights the government’s efforts to protect the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, which is described as the “largest rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles in the world.” The seven-month fishing ban is a direct action to manage and protect this critical ecosystem during the turtle nesting season.
• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices.
  • The arrest of nine fishermen for “illegal fishing inside Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary” is a clear example of action being taken against IUU fishing. The seizure of their vessel, nets, and fish demonstrates the regulation of harvesting.
• Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information.
  • The article explicitly mentions the “marine sanctuary areas covering 1,435 sq km,” which is a designated conservation area. The demarcation of the sanctuary by “putting 14 buoys in the sea” is a tangible step in enforcing this conservation zone.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
  • The fishermen were “booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” produced in a court, and remanded in judicial custody after their bail applications were rejected. This sequence of events shows the application of national laws and the functioning of the justice system to address wildlife crime.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 14

• Coverage of protected areas: The article states the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary covers “1,435 sq km,” which is a direct quantitative indicator for Target 14.5.
• Enforcement actions against illegal fishing: The number of arrests (“nine fishermen arrested,” “About 33 fishermen were arrested…since Nov 1”) and seizures (“seized the vessel,” “10 fishing nets,” “three fishing boats seized”) serve as indicators of the efforts to combat IUU fishing under Target 14.4.
• Success of conservation measures: The article provides a key outcome indicator for the effectiveness of the fishing ban (Target 14.2), stating that “6,06,933 turtles laid eggs from March 5 to 10.” This number measures the direct positive impact of the protective measures on the endangered species.

Indicators for SDG 16

• Application of national law: The fact that the fishermen were “booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972” is an indicator that national environmental laws are being enforced (Target 16.3).
• Functioning of the justice system: The process described—arrest, being “produced in a court,” rejection of “bail applications,” and being “remanded in judicial custody”—serves as a qualitative indicator of the justice system’s response to environmental crime.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com