Navy seizes poaching trawler in Mannar seas

The Navy seized an Indian trawler with six Indian fishermen aboard for poaching in the island’s waters, during a patrol carried out in the seas north of Mannar on Wednesday (2) night.

The Navy regularly conducts patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters with a view to curbing the impact on the local fishing community as well as the damage caused to the biodiversity of the marine environment of Sri Lanka, due to illegal fishing activities carried out by foreign fishermen in the country’s waters.

The apprehension was made by a Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Northern Naval Command, during a night patrol in seas off Mannar on 20th July. Accordingly, the Indian trawler with 06 Indian fishermen were held while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, via the Internal Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The Indian fishermen and their trawler were brought to Talaimannar and arrangements are currently under way to hand them over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar.

In all, the Navy has seized four Indian trawlers and 29 Indian fishermen in July alone.

The Navy will continue to carry out constant operations in the waters around the island, to ensure its security and protect the livelihood of local fishermen.