Navy seizes poaching trawler in Northern waters | Daily News

Navy seizes poaching trawler in Northern waters

The seized trawler.
The seized trawler.

A special operation launched by the Navy to keep a close eye on Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lanka’s waters on Monday led to the seizure of an Indian trawler with eight Indian nationals. The trawler was poaching in the waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse, Kankesanthurai.

The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lanka’s waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers.

In a similar operation conducted on September 19, the Northern Naval Command deployed a Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted them engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lanka’s waters off Kovilan Lighthouse, through the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Thus, the Navy held an Indian poaching trawler that continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters, with eight Indian fishers and fishing gear.

The seized trawler together with the fishermen was brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector.

Meanwhile, the Navy has seized 25 Indian poaching trawlers and nabbed 189 Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters, during operations conducted thus far in 2022 and produced them to authorities for legal proceedings.

Taking into account the consequences of illegal fishing practices by foreign fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters on the livelihood of local fishermen and ocean resources of the country, the Sri Lanka Navy continues to remain vigilant and conduct its operations with a view to preventing such practices.


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