Naval personnel arrest 12 persons engaged in illegal fishing
 
 

Naval personnel arrested 12 local fishermen engaged in illegal fishing in three separate incidents on 23rd February 2016. Five persons were arrested by naval personnel attached to SLNS Buwaneka along with an OBM fitted dhow, while engaged in illegal fishing using a monofilament net, in the general area between Muddal Ampiddi and Padatthurai. The arrested persons with the items were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries (Mannar) for onward action.

Two persons were also arrested by naval personnel attached to SLNS Vijayaba in coordination with Kuchchaweli police while they were transferring illegally harvested fish using banned explosives, in Gopalpuram. The suspects and the apprehended items were retained at Kuchchaweli police for further investigations.

The crew onboard P 439 also arrested 5 fishermen engaged in illegal fishing in the seas off Thirukkovil. The arrested persons along with their fishing equipment were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector through the Coast Guard Station (Oluvil) for onward legal action.