Sri Lanka Navy has assisted to apprehend 41 persons engaged in illegal fishing at various locations in the island in separate occasions on the 15th May, Navy Media Unit said.
On 15th May, the crew of an Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command with the assistance of Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel arrested 15 persons who engaged in illegal fishing around the sea area of Round Island.
Two dinghies, 2 banned nets and 135 Kg of caught fish were also taken into naval custody. The suspects, dinghies, the stock of fish and other gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for onward action.
In a separate occasion on the same day, the naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command in coordination with the personnel of Sri Lanka Coast Guard arrested 15 persons who engaged in illegal fishing activities in the sea area of Point Pedro.
Five dinghies, diving equipment and illegal catchment of 2,587 Sea Cucumbers were also seized during the operation. The suspects and the seized items were handed over to the Fisheries Department (East) in Point Pedro for legal proceedings.
Naval troops attached to the North Western Naval Command on routine patrol held two persons who practiced illegal fishing in Odakkarathivu sea area on 15th May. Along with the persons a dinghy, a banned net and 6 Kg of fish were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghy, net and fish were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries – Puttalam for legal action.
Meanwhile, the crew of an Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 9 persons who were practicing illegal fishing around the Norway Island, on 15th May. There, 138 Kg of caught fish, a dingy, 2 banned nets were also nabbed. The suspects, dinghy, nabbed stock of fish and other gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for necessary legal action.
