Seventeen (17) individuals apprehended for engaging in illegal fishing

The Navy apprehended 17 persons for their involvement in illegal fishing practices, during separate operations conducted in the beach and sea areas of Kokkadi, Nandikadal, Mullaitivu, Anawasala, Sinnapadu and Kadeikadu from 03 to 19 Feb 25. The individuals had engaged in fishing using explosives, fishing with unauthorized nets sans valid license and illegal night diving, when the apprehensions were made. The operations also resulted in the seizure of 12 fishing boats, 01 motorbike, 156 unauthorized fishing nets, 184 sea cucumbers and 22 conch shells.

The Sri Lanka Navy is continuously vigilant and conducting operations to curb illegal fishing activities along the country's coastal areas, with a view to ensure lawful fishing practices.

Accordingly, SLNS Gotabhaya in the Eastern Naval Command conducted special search operations in the Mullaitivu sea area and Nandikadal Lagoon from 13 to 16 Feb 25. During these operations, the Navy apprehended 06 fishermen engaged in illegal fishing using unauthorized nets. Additionally, naval personnel seized 02 dinghies, 06 small boats, 125 illegal fishing traps, 21 trammel nets, 09 nylon nets, and 01 purse seine net.

Moreover, SLNS Perakumba of the Eastern Naval Command apprehended a suspect along with a stock of fish, suspected to have been caught using explosives, during a search operation in the Kokkadi coastal area of Trincomalee on 15 Feb.

On 16 Feb, during a search operation conducted by SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command in the sea area off Anawasala, three (03) fishermen were apprehended along with one (01) dinghy, 139 sea cucumbers and 22 conchs for illegal harvesting. In addition, during a search operation conducted by SLNS Thambapanni on 19 Feb in the Sinnapadu coastal area of Chilaw, six (06) fishermen, two (02) dinghies along with forty-five (45) sea cucumbers and diving equipment were seized, for their involvement in illegal night diving.

On 19 Feb, a search operation conducted by the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni of the Northern Naval Command in the Mullaiyan Kadeikadu area resulted in the seizure of a dinghy (01) along with a suspect (01) who was fishing without a valid fishing license.

The persons held in these operations were identified as residents of Mullaitivu, Puttalam, Kalpitiya, Kottantivu, Thopur and Mulliyan areas, from 18 to 58 years of age. The suspects along with seized items were handed over to the Mullaitivu Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Puttalam Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department Office, Mannar Assistant Director of Fisheries, Muttur Fisheries Inspector and Jaffna Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department Office for onward legal action.