(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka Navy assisted to apprehend 41 persons engaged in illegal acts at various locations in the island during the past few days. These suspects were held for engaging in illegal fishing.
Accordingly, the crew of an Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command with the assistance of Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel apprehended 15 persons who engaged in illegal fishing around the sea area of Round Island, on 15th May. Two dinghies, 2 banned nets and 135 Kg of caught fish were also taken into naval custody. The suspects, dinghies, nabbed stock of fish and other gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for onward action.
A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command in coordination with the personnel of Sri Lanka Coast Guard apprehended fifteen persons (15) who engaged in illegal fishing activities in the sea area of Point Pedro on last 15th May. Five dinghies, diving equipment and illegal catchment of Sea Cucumber 2587 in number were also nabbed and they along with the suspects were handed over to the Fisheries Department (East) in Point Pedro for legal proceedings.
Naval troops attached to the North Western Naval Command on routine patrol held two (02) persons who practised illegal fishing in Odakkarathivu sea area on 15th May. Along with the persons a dinghy, a banned net and 6 Kg of fish were also taken into naval custody. The apprehended persons, dinghy, net and fish were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries -Puttalam for legal action.
Meanwhile, the crew of an Inshore Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 9 persons who were practicing illegal fishing around the Norway Island, on 15th May. There, 138 Kg of caught fish, a dingy, 2 banned nets were also nabbed. The suspects, dinghy, nabbed stock of fish and other gears were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries-Trincomalee for necessary legal action.
