Navy apprehends 15 persons engaged in illegal fishing activities in northern waters
The Navy apprehended 15 persons who engaged in illegal night diving and illegal fishing practices on 11th and 13th October 2022. These separate search operations were conducted off Point Pedro, Ampan and Chundikulam, where the Navy also took hold of fishing and diving gear used for these illegal acts.
Sri Lanka Navy conducts regular operations to prevent illegal fishing practices performed by a handful of people in coastal areas around the island. As an extension of these efforts, Naval Detachment Point Pedro of SLNS Uththara in the Northern Naval Command held 03 persons engaged in illegal diving activities. The search operation was carried out off Point Pedro, Jaffna in the wee hours of today (13th October), where 02 dinghies and diving equipment used by the suspects were also held.
Meanwhile, SLN Marine personnel of Naval Deployment Vettalakeni in the Northern Naval Command also nabbed 06 persons with 02 dinghies and diving equipment, while they were engaging in night diving in Ampan sea area on the night of 11th October. In addition, those Marine personnel also held 06 individuals with 01 dinghy and an unauthorized fishing net, whilst fishing in the Chundikulam sea area using the unauthorized net, on the same day.
The apprehended persons of these separate operations were identified as residents of Jaffna, Manalkadu, Mannar and Mullivaikkal areas, who are from 23 to 43 years of age. The persons and their belongings held by the Navy on 11th October were handed over to the Thalayadi Fisheries Inspector in Jaffna for onward action. Meanwhile, those individuals held with their equipment on today (13th October) will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
During operations thus far in 2022, the Navy has apprehended 396 persons engaged in illegal fishing activities and produced them for legal proceedings. The Navy will continue to carry out similar operations, with a view to prevent damage caused by such practices on the marine ecosystem and taking into account its blow on the livelihood of law-abiding fishing community.
