Navy holds four persons engaged in illegal catching of sea cucumber at night

Navy held four (04) persons who engaged in illegal catching of sea cucumber at night, during a patrol carried out at the Palleimunai beach area in Mannar on 12^th December 2019.

Keeping with Sri Lanka Navy’s efforts to restrain illegal fishing in the country’s territorial waters, a raid was carried out aiming Palleimunaibeach area in Mannar. During the raid, a suspicious boat was inspected and discovered 350 Sea Cucumbers, onboard. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the fishermen had conducted poaching at night and since the permits are not issued for night time, these persons were apprehended. The suspects have been identified as residents of Mannar, Pallimunai and Vankalai areas aged 33, 36 and 50.

Two dinghies, 02 OBMs, 350 Nos. of illegally caught sea cucumbers were also seized by the Navy during the raid. The apprehended persons along with the dinghies, OBMs, stock of sea cucumber and other fishing gears were handed over to the Inspector of Fisheries-Mannar for further investigation.

Further, four persons with 409 sea cucumber were apprehended by the Navy during a raid conducted in the same area on last 9th December. Accordingly, about 2000kg of dried sea cucumber and 900 Nos. of sea cucumber have been seized during the raids carried out by Navy in Mannar area only within this year.