Navy seizes 02 Indian trawlers for poaching in Sri Lankan waters

The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard conducted a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters in the wee hours of 23rd July 2024. The operation led to the seizure of 02 Indian trawlers and apprehension of 09 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island, Jaffna.

The Navy and Coast Guard continue to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.

As an extension of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft of the Coast Guard to chase away a cluster of Indian trawlers, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island. The operation resulted in the seizure of 02 Indian trawlers and apprehension of 09 Indian fishermen who continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized trawlers (02) together with Indian fishermen (09) were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings.

With this recent apprehension, the Navy has seized a total of 37 Indian trawlers and apprehended 261 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2024, and subsequently handed them over to authorities for legal proceedings.