Navy apprehends 15 persons for engaging in illegal fishing in Trincomalee

The Navy apprehended 15 persons for engaging in illegal fishing, during separate operations conducted off the Bolder Point, in Walaithottam beach area and off the Norway Island in Trincomalee on 03rd and 04th October 2023. The operations also led to the apprehension of 04 dinghies and unauthorized fishing gear used for these illegal fishing practices.

Accordingly, SLNS Walagamba belonging to the Eastern Naval Command apprehended 07 persons for using unauthorized nets to catch fish, during a search operation carried out off the Bolder Point on 03rd October. During this operation, the naval personnel also took into custody 02 dinghies and unauthorized fishing gear used by those individuals.

On the same day, SLNS Lankapatuna nabbed another person in Walaithottam beach area, as the person was getting ready to engage in illegal fishing with unauthorized fishing equipment. A dinghy and unauthorized fishing equipment in his possession were also held by the Navy.

Meanwhile, SLNS Mahaweli in the Eastern Naval Command also held 07 more persons for using banned fishing gear and practicing light-coarse fishing off the Norway Island on 04th October. The operations also led to the apprehension of 01 dinghy and unauthorized fishing gear used by those individuals.

The persons held in these operations are residents of Kinniya and Poduwakattu areas, from 20 to 47 years of age. The individuals, dinghies and fishing gear held off the Bolder Point, in Walaithottam and off the Norway Island were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Kuchchaweli, Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Trincomalee and Fisheries Inspector of Cod Bay for onward legal action.