Two (02) persons apprehended for engaging in illegal fishing

The Navy, during a patrol carried out in the seas south of Mannar, apprehended two persons who were engaging in illegal fishing on a dinghy which were entering to Sri Lankan territorial waters crossing Indian territorial waters, on 04^th March 2020.

As illegal fishing practices often causes grave damages on marine habitats that support marine life, the Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular patrols in prevention of such activities. During such an operation, the Navy had spotted a dinghy passing Indian waters into Sri Lankan territorial waters and managed to apprehend 02 persons who engaged in illegal fishing in the sea area south of Manner, on 4^th March 2020. Further, few heaps of mangrove branches were also found in their dinghy. Accordingly, the dinghy and several fishing gear used for this illegal activity were also seized during the operation.

The apprehended persons have been identified as residents of Pesalai area. The suspects, dinghy and the fishing gear were handed over to Fisheries Inspector-Mannar for onward action.