President of Krushak Mahasangh and environmentalist Banka Behary Das has alleged that nearly 1,200 sea turtles have died since November last year due to intensive fishing in the prohibited marine sanctuary at Gahirmatha. Accusing the forest and fisheries department of not enforcing the law in the area, Das said trawlers and gill netters, operating off the Gahirmatha coast, had disturbed sea turtles that visit the beach for nesting during winter.