18 persons nabbed for engaging in illegal fishing

The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard apprehended 18 persons for their involvement in light-coarse fishing and use of unauthorized fishing nets, during search operations conducted in the sea areas of Kilinochchi, Kalpitiya and Trincomalee on 13th and 14th September 2024. The operations also resulted in the seizure of 09 dinghies and unauthorized fishing gear.

The Sri Lanka Navy maintains a vigilant stance, actively engaging in operations to combat illegal fishing within its sea and coastal regions. This initiative aims to endorse and support legal fishing activities.

As an extension of these efforts, the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni in the Northern Naval Command apprehend 07 persons and seized 07 dinghies along with unauthorized fishing gear, for engaging in light-coarse fishing off Chalai in Kilinochchi on 13th and 14th September.

Similarly, SLNS Vijaya in the Northwestern Naval Command nabbed 04 individuals and held 01 dinghy and banned fishing gear, for their illegal fishing practices off Uchchamuni in the Kalpitiya lagoon on 14th September. On the same day, a Coast Guard craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 07 more persons with 01 dinghy and unauthorized fishing gear, while they were engaging in illegal fishing using authorized fishing equipment in the Koneshwaram sea area.

The persons apprehended during these operations were identified as residents of Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Kalpitiya and Trincomalee, from 18 to 61 years of age. Those individuals along with the dinghies and fishing equipment were handed over to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department Offices in Puttalam and Fisheries Inspector of Kod Bay for onward legal action.