Four Indian poaching trawlers seized

The seized trawlers

Navy conducted special operations to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on Wednesday (6) in the evening. The separate operations led to the seizure of four Indian trawlers with 21 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Mannar and off Kovilan, Kankasanthurei.

The North Central Naval Command and Northern Naval Command deployed their Fast Attack Craft and Inshore Patrol Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters on Wednesday evening. In these operations, the North Central Naval Command held one Indian poaching trawler that continued to remain in island waters off Mannar, with eight Indian fishers aboard. In the same vein, the Northern Naval Command apprehended three Indian poaching trawlers with 13 Indian fishermen who were poaching off Kovilan, Kankasanthurei.

The apprehended Indian fishermen (21) and the poaching trawlers (four) were brought to the Talaimannar Pier and Kankasanthurai harbour and they will be handed over to the Talaimannar and Jaffna Fisheries Inspectors for onward legal action.

Including the poaching trawlers held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 31 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 195 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023. Following these apprehensions, the poaching trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to relevant authorities for legal action.

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