Four nabbed for illegal fishing

The Navy apprehended four fishermen, along with four dinghies and fishing gear, while they were engaging in fishing using unauthorized nets in the lagoon of Kokilai and Chinnapuram sea area on Thursday. The apprehension was made during a dedicated operation carried out by the Navy to prevent illegal fishing practices.

The SLNS Gotabaya and SLNS Ranweli in the Eastern Naval Command conducted this special operation in the Kokkilai Lagoon and the Jinnapuram sea area, deploying craft belonging to the Naval Detachment Nayaru. The operation led to the apprehension of four fishermen who were engaging in fishing with unauthorized nets. Accordingly, the fishermen’s four dinghies and their fishing equipment were taken into naval custody.

Meanwhile, the Navy fired one warning shot in the sky in order to control the fishermen in the Jinnapuram area who behaved violently during the naval operation. Further, a person on the scene was held and handed over to the Pulmoddai Police by the Navy, for his aggressive behaviour.

The persons held in the operation were identified as residents of the Periyapadu, Kokilai and Pulmoddai areas, aged between 24 to 45. The four individuals along with their dinghies and fishing gear were handed over to the Kuchchaveli Fisheries Inspector for further action.