The Sri Lanka Navy apprehended five Indian trawlers along with 27 Indian nationals who were caught engaged in poaching activities in Sri Lankan waters, specifically in the seas off Mannar, Delft, and Kachchativu Islands, Jaffna.
These arrests made during special operations initiated by the Navy to deter Indian poaching trawlers from encroaching into Sri Lankan waters.
The Navy disclosed that the North Central Naval Command and Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft, Inshore Patrol Craft, and smaller vessels to repel a group of Indian poaching trawlers that were discovered engaging in unauthorized fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
Throughout these operations, the North Central Naval Command detained two Indian poaching trawlers with 15 Indian fishermen aboard, which had been persisting within Sri Lankan waters off Mannar.
Additionally, the Northern Naval Command seized three Indian poaching trawlers with 12 Indian fishermen who were found poaching near the Delft and Kachchativu Islands.
The apprehended Indian fishermen and their poaching trawlers were transported to the Talaimannar Pier and Kankasanthurai harbour. They will be handed over to the Talaimannar and Jaffna Fisheries Inspectors for subsequent legal action.
Meanwhile, the Navy said that they have arrested a total of 22 Indian poaching trawlers and 137 Indian fishermen throughout the year 2023.
