Navy seizes a Indian fishing boat and apprehends 18 fishermen

Sri Lanka NavyThis special operation was conducted off Veththalakerni, Jaffna on 02nd December 2024. When the apprehension was made, the fishing boat had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line by approximately 30 nautical miles, entering Sri Lankan waters.

The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

In continuation of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft attached to the Command to send away a cluster of Indian fishing boats, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off Veththalakerni. The operation resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 18 Indian fishermen continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat (01) together with Indian fishermen (18) were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they were handed over to the Regional Director Sri Lanka Coast Guard Northern Region for onward legal proceedings.

With this recent apprehension, the Navy and Coast Guard have seized a total of 66 Indian fishing boats and 515 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2024, and subsequently handed them over to authorities for legal proceedings.