Navy seizes an Indian trawler for poaching in northern waters

Sri Lanka Navy carried out a special operation on the night of 30th March 2022, to chase away a large number of Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters northwest of Kovilan Point Lighthouse in Karainagar, Jaffna. In this operation, the Navy seized an Indian trawler with 03 Indian fishermen for poaching in island waters through the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Having spotted a large cluster of Indian poaching vessels in Sri Lankan waters northwest of Kovilan Point Lighthouse in Karainagar, the Navy deployed a Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4 FAF), attached to the Northern Naval Command to chase away those poaching vessels from Sir Lankan waters. In this operation, one poaching vessel remaining in island waters was held with 03 Indian fishermen and their fishing gear. Meanwhile, the Indian poaching vessel with its fishermen was escorted to Mailadi fishery harbour, Kankasanthurai and arrangements are currently underway to hand over them to the Fisheries Inspector of Jaffna, through Sri Lanka Coast Guard, for onward legal action.

Sri Lanka Navy also seized an Indian poaching vessel with 04 Indian fishermen who were poaching in Sri Lankan waters south of the island of Delft in Jaffna on 28th March. The Navy will continue to carry out regular patrols in Sri Lankan waters to prevent illegal fishing practices, with a view to protect the fishery resources of the country and livelihood of local fishermen.