Person held for transferring conch shells without valid passes

The Navy, during a search conducted in Urumalei, Talaimannar on 01^st October 2019, held a suspect for transferring 226 conch shells without valid passes.

Accordingly, the North Central Naval Command whilst conducting a search in Urumalei general area spotted a suspected cab and found 226 conch shells being transferred by the vehicle. The person who was transferring these conch shells from Urumalei to Pesalei failed to produce a valid pass for the transfer of conchs and he was subsequently apprehended. The suspect has been identified as a 51 year-old resident of Pesalei area. The suspect along with the stock of conch shells was handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for onward action.

According to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act the possession, buying, displaying with the intention of selling, transporting or exporting of conch shells which are less than 70 mm in diameter has been banned.