Navy seizes an Indian trawler poaching in Sri Lankan waters

A special operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy led to the seizure of an Indian trawler (01) poaching in Sri Lankan waters and apprehension of 04 Indian fishermen. The operation was conducted off the Kovilan Lighthouse, Jaffna today (04th September 2024).

The Navy continues 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 had spotted a cluster of Indian fishing trawlers engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. In response, Fast Attack Craft belonging to the Command were deployed to send away those Indian fishing trawlers poaching off the Kovilan Lighthouse. The operation resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing trawler and apprehension of 04 Indian fishermen who continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized trawler together with 04 Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurei 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 47 Indian trawlers and 345 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2024, and subsequently handed them over to authorities for legal proceedings.