Poaching trawler, six fishermen held by Navy

The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching in the northern waters of the islands, off the Kovilan Lighthouse, on the evening of July 11.

One of the Indian trawlers with six Indian fishermen were seized by the Navy in the operation.

The Navy deployed a Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4 FAF), attached to the Northern Naval Command to chase away a large number of Indian trawlers from Sri Lankan waters, after having spotted them poaching off the Kovilan Lighthouse, via the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The Indian trawler and the six Indian fishermen held by the Navy were brought to the Kankesanthurai Port and they are to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna, through the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, for onward legal action.

The Navy is determined to carry out regular operations to protect the country’s fishery resources and livelihood of the local fishing community.