Poaching trawler held in northern waters during operation conducted by Navy and Coast Guard
Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard conducted a special operation in northern waters to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lanka’s waters on the night of 26th October 2022. The operation led to the seizure of an Indian trawler with 07 Indian fishermen, poaching in island’s waters south of the Delft Island in Jaffna.
Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard remain alert to foil illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers in Sri Lanka’s waters and regularly conduct patrols and operations to prevent such endeavours.
As an extension of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command mounted a special operation in the dark hours of 26th October, by deploying a craft of Sri Lanka Coast Guard attached to the Northern Naval Command, to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers in Sri Lanka’s waters, off the Delft Island. The operation led to the seizure of an Indian poaching trawler continued to remain in island’s waters, with 07 Indian fishers and their fishing gear.
The seized trawler together with 07 Indian fishermen was brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings.
Sri Lanka Navy continues to remain vigilant and conduct its operations with a view to preventing such practices, taking into account the consequences of illegal fishing practices of foreign fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters on the livelihood of local fishermen and ecosystem functioning.