Fifty three suspects apprehended for illegal fishing
Navy troops apprehended 53 persons for illegal fishing during separate operations from February 9 to 15 along with dinghies, a fishing trawler, fishing gear, stocks of fish, sea cucumber and conch shells.
SLNS Pussadewa in the North Central Naval Command nabbed three persons who were catching ornamental fish without licences in the Achchanakulam sea area in Mannar on February 9. It led to the seizure of about 325 ornamental fish, a dinghy as well as diving and fishing gear.
Meanwhile, SLNS Gotaimbara in the Northern Naval Command apprehended a person for illegally harvesting sea cucumber without a licence off Punkudutivu in Jaffna during a special search carried out on February 10. They also seized about 119 illegally harvested sea cucumbers and a dinghy.
On February 11, SLNS Pussadewa in the North Central Naval Command apprehended eight individuals for harvesting sea cucumber illegally off Narivilkulam, Mannar.
The special search operation also seized 78 sea cucumbers, a dinghy as well as fishing and diving equipment.
In another two separate search operations mounted off the Palaitivu Island in Jaffna on February 13, SLNS Kanchadewa in the Northern Naval Command apprehended six suspects who were harvesting sea cucumber by illegal means.
The Naval personnel also held about 163 sea cucumbers, 57 conch shells, two dinghies, diving gear and fishing equipment.
Meanwhile, SLNS Welusumana in the Northern Naval Command carried out a special search operation off the Kalmunai Point, Jaffna on February 14 and apprehended 24 individuals for illegal harvesting sea cucumber. During the operation, about 509 sea cucumbers, three dinghies, a fishing trawler, diving gear and fishing equipment were seized.
In addition, the Naval Deployment Vettalakeni in the Northern Naval Command conducted special search operations in the sea area of northeast of the island on February 14 and 15 and apprehended 11 suspects for illegal fishing.
The operation also seized five dinghies and fishing gear.
The suspects along with illegally caught fish, sea cucumber and conch shells as well as their fishing and diving gear were handed over to fisheries inspectors.