06 persons apprehended with a stock of shark fins

During a raid conducted by Sri Lanka Navy in Kudawa and Ammathottam areas of Kalpitiya on 03^rd Decemeber, 06 persons were apprehended with a stock of shark fins.

Keeping with Sri Lanka Navy’s efforts to restrain illegal fishing and trading in the country’s territorial waters, a search operation was carried out along Kudawa area of Kalpitiya where a suspicious lorry was inspected and discovered 15 sacks of shark fins being smuggled by road. Upon further questioning of the persons on the lorry, another 15 sacks of dried shark fins were located and apprehended, hidden in Ammathottam area of Kalpitiya. 30 sacks of dried shark fins weighing in at 1649kg were successfully apprehended in the raid.

The 06 arrested persons aged 29, 36, 39 and 43 have been identified as a residents of Kalpitiya and Murukkan areas. The suspects along with seized shark fins and lorry were handed over to the Kalpitiya Police for onward action.

Shark species have faced an imminent threat of extinction due to mass harvesting of shark fins for their cartilage, upon which sharks are discarded back into the ocean where they endure a suffocating death. These fins are then exported to East Asian countries such as Japan and China where shark fins are in high demand for traditional soup preparations which is a high end delicacy in the region. Due to such fact, shark hunting has become a very profitable livelihood.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has totally prohibited the capturing of Whale Shark, Treasure Shark and Ocean White Strip Shark that are under threat of extinction.

These highly endangered Shark species maintain the balance of the maritime environment and Sri Lanka Navy is committed to avert all such illegal acts which harm the regional maritime environment.