Twenty one fishermen apprehended for engaging in illegal fishing
 

Naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 21 fishermen, at two separate locations, for engaging in illegal fishing activities today (July 14).

Accordingly, 15 fishermen engaged in illegal fishing activities using illegal fishing nets were arrested in the sea area off the Pigeon Island, Nilaweli. Along with the suspects, 2 dingies, two 220 m long fishing nets, 2 pairs of diving fins, 2 diving masks and a catch of 319 kg of fish were also taken into naval custody. The arrested fishermen, items and the stock of fish were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Trincomalee for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, the naval personnel arrested 6 more fishermen for engaging in illegal fishing using illegal fishing nets in the seas east of Lankapatuna, Trincomalee. Accordingly, a dinghy, a pair of diving fins, a diving mask and an illegal fishing net used for fishing practices were also arrested by the naval personnel. The arrested fishermen together with the dinghy and other fishing gear were produced before the Muththur Fisheries Inspector for further investigation.