Four Indian bottom trawlers seized with 21 fishermen onboard

Navy and Coast Guard intercepted four bottom Indian trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters and arrested 21 Indian fishermen, during a special operation conducted off Delft Island on Thursday, Navy said.

The Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft of the Command and Coast Guard to send away a cluster of Indian trawlers, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off Delft Island, Jaffna. The operation resulted in the seizure of 04 Indian trawlers and the arrest of 21 Indian fishermen who continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized trawlers (04) together with Indian fishermen (21) were brought to the Kankesanthurai harbour and they were handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings.

So far, the Navy has seized a total of 59 Indian trawlers and 434 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters this year alone and subsequently handed them over to authorities for legal proceedings.