The Sri Lanka Navy taken 02 Indian dhows into their custody with 22 Indian fishermen engaged in poaching activities off the coast of Point Pedro.
The Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters this morning and the operation resulted in arrest of Indian fishermen.
The Navy said they remains committed to conducting routine patrols and operations within Sri Lankan waters to deter the unlawful fishing activities of foreign fishermen. This effort is driven by an understanding of the impact of such practices on the livelihoods of local fishermen and the marine resources of the country.
Accordingly, the Northern Naval Command deployed its Fast Attack Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on the morning of 18th November. In the operation, the Northern Naval Command held these 02 Indian dhows with 22 Indian fishermen, for poaching off Point Pedro, in island waters.
The arrested Indian fishermen and the poaching dhows were brought to the Kankasanthurei Harbour and they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for onward legal action.
Including the Indian dhows held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 29 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 196 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023.
Following these apprehensions, the poaching trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to relevant authorities for legal action, the Navy said.
