Kendrapada (Orissa), March 27 (IANS) At least 16 suspected Bangladeshi fishermen were arrested illegally fishing at a protected turtle-nesting site in Orissa and their four trawlers seized, forest officials said Tuesday.

The fishermen were caught Monday at the Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary in the coastal district of Kendrapada some 174 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar, local forest officer R. Das told IANS.

Gahirmatha sanctuary is one of the world's largest turtle nesting sites, where 700,000 - 800,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles nest every winter. The two other turtle nesting sites in Orissa are the Devi River in Puri district and the Rushikulya River in Ganjam district.

The state government has banned all types of fishing, from November 1 to May 31, within the 20 km off the seashore near the nesting site to protect the turtles.

Forest officials suspect the arrested fishermen to be from neighbouring Bangladesh although the arrested persons denied the charge claiming they were from West Bengal.

They were produced before a local court on Tuesday and were remanded in police custody.