During special naval operations conducted in the past week, the Navy managed to apprehend twenty nine (29) individuals along with their fishing gear for engaging in illegal fishing.

As such, the naval operations carried out in the Northern, Eastern and North Central Naval Command resulted in the apprehension of 29 persons for engaging in unauthorized diving, using and storing banned fishing nets and practicing light course fishing. These separate apprehensions had been made in the seas off Vethalaikeni by Northern Command, off Norway Point, Salpayaru, Nayaru, Black Point, in Batticaloa lagoon and Thuduwa area by Eastern Command and in the seas off Nochchimunai by North Central Command. Along with the suspects; 11 fishing vessels and several other fishing gear were also detained by the Navy.

During another special search operation conducted by Navy in Narivilakulam, Mannar about 600 conch shells of less than 70mm in diameter had been recovered at the Narivilakulam Public Cemetery.

The apprehended persons in connection to these incidents along with seized items were handed over to the Directors of Fisheries in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Mulathivu, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Batticaloa.