Indian Trawler rams into local fishing boat in Sea of Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Navy rendered assistance to a local fishing trawler and its fishermen after it got seriously damaged having collided with an Indian poaching vessel in Sri Lankan territorial waters, on 15th December 2021.

Sri Lanka Navy has been conducting regular operations to prevent illegal Bottom Trawling fishing practices of Indian poaching vessels, entering Sri Lankan waters. After observing about 200 Indian poaching vessels in Sri Lankan territorial waters off the Kachchativu Island and Kovilam Lighthouse in the evening of 15th December, Sri Lanka Navy mounted a special operation deploying two ships attached to the Northern Naval Command to chase away those poaching vessels from the island waters.

These illegal fishing activities by Indian fishermen cause damage not only to the marine environment of Sri Lanka but also to the fishing vessels and equipment of local fishing community.

On the night of 15th December, a Sri Lanka Navy ship patrolling in seas south of the Delft Island spotted a local fishing trawler (Reg. No. 1DAY-A-0137-JFN) in distress after an Indian poaching vessel collided with it, causing serious damage to the tiller flat area of the local vessel.

Further, its propeller has also been severely damaged with an entanglement of ropes and nets of the Indian poaching vessels. Accordingly, the Navy ship made arrangements to send the distressed fishing vessel and its 02 fishermen ashore with the assistance of another fishing vessel in the vicinity. It is reported that no injuries have been caused to the 02 fishermen in this mid-sea collision.

Sri Lanka Navy will continue to patrol island waters with a view to prevent damage to the marine environment of Sri Lanka by Indian poaching vessels through illegal fishing practices and to protect the livelihood of the local fishing community.