Sri Lankan Navy Seizes Indian Fishing Vessel, Arrests Crew

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 11 Indian fishermen for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing activities within Sri Lankan territorial waters, also known as the Sea of Sri Lanka. The operation took place in the waters off Delft Island.

The fishermen were taken into custody along with their fishing vessel, which has been seized by the Navy. 

Separately, in a series of coordinated search operations conducted by the Navy from 08 to 20 Mar 25, fifty-seven (57) individuals involved in various illegal fishing activities were apprehended. 

The individuals were caught engaging in practices such as illegal night diving, illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers and illegal fishing. 

The operations spanned multiple locations, including Nandikadal Lagoon, Cod Bay, Echchalampaththu, Kalkuda, Kokilai, Pothuvil and Kinniya.

During the raids, authorities confiscated illegal fishing gear, including 147 trap nets, 172 trammel nets, 305 monofilament nets, 06 purse seine nets, 2428 sea cucumbers, 03 cabs, 01 three-wheeler, 01 two-wheel tractor, 09 dinghies, 01 trawler and 04 small boats.

In the Eastern Naval Command, multiple operations conducted by SLNS Gotabaya with the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Mullaitivu in Nandikadal Lagoon from 08 to 19 Mar, SLNS Lankapatuna in the Lankapatuna area on 09 Mar, SLNS Mahaweli in Yard Cove, Flagstaff Point and Chappell Island from 09 to 21 Mar, SLNS Kashyapa and the Valaichchenai Police in Kalkuda on 14 Mar, SLNS Vijayaba in the sea area of Trincomalee on 15 Mar, SLNS Walagamba in Kokilai on 16 Mar and SLNS Gokanna with the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Trincomalee in the Trincomalee sea area on 17 Mar resulted in the apprehension of persons along with vehicles, boats and fishing gear.

In the same vein, separate operations mounted by SLNS Gajaba in the North Central Naval Command with Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Mannar in the general area of Mannar on 08 Mar, SLNS Welusumana belonging to the Northern Naval Command in the Pallekuda area on 10 Mar, SLNS Mahanaga in the Southeastern Naval Command in Pothuvil on 18 Mar and Rapid Action Boat Squadron personnel of the Northwestern Naval Command in the Jamaliya sea area on 20 Mar led to the apprehension of individuals engaged in fishing with explosives and seizure of sea cucumbers, a dinghy, a two-wheel tractor and 03 cabs.

The persons held in these operations along with the fishing gear, vehicles and fishing boats were handed over to the Fisheries Inspectors of Trincomalee, Cod Bay, Silawathura, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Echchalampaththu and Kuchchaweli, Assistant Directorate of Fisheries in Mullaitivu and Police stations of Valaichchenai and Pothuvil for onward legal action.