12 arrested for participating in unlawful fishing

The Sri Lanka Navy apprehended 12 individuals for participating in unlawful fishing, throughout separate operations performed within the sea areas of Spherical Island, Trincomalee and Kaddaikadu, Kilinochchi on seventeenth April 2024. The people concerned in gentle course fishing and fishing with unauthorized nets when the apprehensions have been made. The operations additionally led to the seizure of 02 dinghies used for these unlawful acts.

The Sri Lanka Navy is actively monitoring and taking motion to stop unlawful fishing in its seas and coastal areas, aiming to advertise and defend authorized fishing practices.

Accordingly, Naval Dockyard within the Japanese Naval Command performed a search operation within the sea space of Spherical Island, the place a suspicious dinghy was noticed. After conducting additional search of the dinghy, naval personnel apprehended 11 people who have been concerned in unlawful fishing utilizing unauthorized fishing nets. The dinghy used for this criminality was additionally taken into the naval custody.

In the meantime, the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni within the Northern Naval Command additionally nabbed an individual (01) for participating in gentle course fishing, throughout a search carried out in Kaddaikadu sea space. The operation additionally resulted within the confiscation of a dinghy (01) utilized by the suspect.

The individuals held in these operations have been recognized as residents of Kinniya and Mullian, from 21 to 54 years of age. The 11 individuals held within the Spherical Island sea space have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Cod Bay for onward authorized motion. In the meantime, the dinghy and unauthorized fishing gear have been saved within the naval custody, till additional authorized proceedings get underway.

As well as, the individual together with the dinghy and fishing gear, held within the Kaddaikadu sea space was handed over to the Division of Fisheries and Aquatic Sources – Jaffna for onward authorized motion.