9 July 2023 12:41 pm
The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard conducted a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching on Sri Lankan waters yesterday and the operation led to the apprehension of 02 Indian trawlers with 15 Indian nationals poaching on Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island, Jaffna.
The SL Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations on Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign trawlers.
As an extension of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla and craft of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted them engaging in illegal fishing on Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island. In this operation, the Navy held 02 Indian poaching trawlers with 15 Indian fishermen continuing to remain on Sri Lankan waters.
The seized trawlers together with the Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal proceedings.
Thus far in 2023, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 12 Indian poaching trawlers and 74 Indian fishermen on the island's waters and have handed them over to authorities for legal action.