Navy apprehends two Indian poaching trawlers

The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters in the early hours of 24th July. The operation led to the apprehension of two Indian trawlers with nine Indian nationals poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island, Jaffna.

The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, the Navy said in a statement. 

As an extension of these efforts, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla and craft of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off the Delft Island. In this operation, the Navy held two Indian poaching trawlers with nine Indian fishers continuing to remain in Sri Lankan waters.

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