Navy apprehends 09 persons engaged in illegal fishing in northern seas

Special operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy in the wee hours of 30th May 2023 led to the apprehension of 09 persons for engaging in several illegal fishing activities in the sea areas of Chundikulam, Chalai, and Nagar Kovil in Veththalakerni. During these operations, the Navy also took hold of unauthorized fishing gear and 05 dinghies used for these illegal acts.

The Navy conducts regular operations in the coastal and sea areas around the island in order to suppress illegal fishing activities performed by people.

As an extension of these efforts, the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni in the Northern Naval Command on 30th May mounted search operations deploying naval personnel attached to the Naval Detachments of Chundikulam, Chalai and Nagar Kovil. The search operation led to the apprehension of 02 individuals and 02 dinghies off Chundikulam for practicing light-coarse fishing, another 04 persons with fishing gear and 02 dinghies while engaging in fishing using unauthorized fishing nets off Chalai as well as 03 persons with a dinghy and 110 sea cucumbers for harvesting sea cucumber without license in Nagar Kovil sea area.

The suspects held in these operations are residents of Mulliyan, Pudumathalan, Mullaitivu, Mulliwaikkal, Pudukudiirippu, Mannar and Mamunai from 18 to 52 years of age. The 09 individuals together with 05 dinghies and unauthorized fishing gear and sea cucumber were handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Jaffna for onward legal action.