SLN arrests 32 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters

Naval craft attached to the Northern Naval Command on routine patrol arrested 32 Indian fishermen along with 08 Indian fishing trawlers engaged in bottom trawling in the seas off Delft on 03rd March 2014. The arrested fishermen and trawlers were handed over to the officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Jaffna for legal action.

The Navy was compelled to make the arrest since the Indian fishermen were poaching well within the Sri Lanka’s territorial waters despite the recent talks held between the two neighboring countries to refrain from illegal methods of fishing and restrict fishing to own waters. They had violated their own agreement to stay away from fishing in the Palk Bay for a month till mid March.