Navy seizes an Indian trawler for poaching in northern waters

Sri Lanka Navy mounted a special operation in the evening of 03rd July 2022, to chase away Indian trawlers which were poaching in northern waters of the island. During this operation, the Navy seized an Indian trawler with 12 Indian fishermen poaching in island waters off Point Pedro.

Having spotted a cluster of Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Point Pedro via the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), the Navy deployed Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4 FAF), attached to the Northern Naval Command to chase away those poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters. In this operation, the Navy seized an Indian trawler with 12 Indian fishermen and their fishing gear, while poaching in the island's waters.

Meanwhile, the seized Indian poaching trawler with its fishermen was escorted to Kankasanthurai harbour and arrangements are currently underway to hand over them to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna, through the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, for onward legal action.

The Navy will continue to carry out regular operations in Sri Lankan waters to protect the biodiversity of the marine environment, fishery resources and livelihood of the local fishing community.