Navy nabs 11 fishermen engaged in illegal fishing activities
 

Naval personnel apprehended 11 local fishermen who engaged in illegal fishing practices at two separate locations yesterday (1). Accordingly, naval personnel attached to SLNS Uththara located in Kankesanthurai belonging to the Northern Naval Command, arrested 7 fishermen who engaged in suspicious night scuba diving for the illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers in the seas off Point Pedro. During the arrest, 2 dinghies, 21 oxygen cylinders, 11 pairs of diving fins and a GPS unit were taken into naval custody. The arrested persons and the items were handed over to the Point Pedro Fisheries Inspector for onward investigations.

On the same day, another 4 fishermen who engaged in illegal fishing activities using unauthorized nets in the sea area off Cheddipalayam, were apprehended by the naval personnel attached to SLNS Kashyapa located in Vakarai in the Eastern Naval Command. Along with the fishermen, 2 dinghies and 2 purseseine nets were taken into custody by the Navy. The arrested persons and belongings were produced to the Batticaloa Fisheries Inspector for further actions.