Navy apprehends 09 persons for engaging in illegal fishing

Naval personnel apprehended 09 persons for engaging in illegal fishing in the sea area off the Chappel Island yesterday (30th April).

Accordingly, a group of naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command, during a routine patrol, apprehended 09 persons engaged in fishing activities using unauthorized fishing nets. The apprehended persons are residents of Kinniya and Trincomalee areas aged 23, 26, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 37 and 38.

During the arrest, naval personnel also seized 50kg of illegally caught fish, a dinghy, an outboard motor and a 250m long unauthorized fishing net. The arrested persons along with the stock of fish, dinghy, outboard motor, fishing net and other fishing gear were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Trincomalee for onward action.