Navy apprehends 09 persons for engaging in illegal fishing using unauthorized nets

The Navy apprehended 09 persons for engaging in illegal fishing using unauthorized nets, during a patrol conducted in the sea area off Pulmoddai on 05^th July 2020. Along with the suspects about 200kg of illegally caught fish were also taken into naval custody.

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 a similar patrol conducted in the sea area off Pulmoddai, naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command had spotted 02 suspicious dinghies about 4.3 nautical miles off the shore. During further search of those dinghies, the naval personnel managed to find about 200kg of fish illegally caught using unauthorized nets. Accordingly, the 09 individuals along with the stock of fish, 02 unauthorized fishing nets, 02 dinghies and other items were taken into naval custody.

The apprehended persons were identified as residents of Pulmoddai, from 19 to 53 years of age. Meanwhile, the accused along with the seized items were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries in Mullaitivu for onward investigation.