Navy arrests 14 local fishermen engaged in illegal fishing

Naval personnel attached to SLNS Buwaneka apprehended 5 fishermen engaged in illegal fishing activities in the seas of Vedithalathive and Maddalampiddi, Mannar along with 5 canoes (Wallam) yesterday. 

During the raid 160 GI pipes were also taken into custody. The arrested persons and the GI pipes were produced to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Mannar for onward action. On the same day another 4 fishermen along with a Fiber Glass Dinghy (FGD), 1.5 kg of sea cucumbers, a GPS unit, 4 pairs of diving fins and 5 diving masks were apprehended in the seas of Konduchchikuda in Mannar. The arrested fishermen along with the items were handed over to the Silawathurai Police for further investigations.

Meanwhile the naval troops attached to SLNS Kashyapa in co-ordination with the officials of the Fisheries Department Batticaloa were able to arrest a person who had concealed 1,008 conch shells in a house in the general area of Sittivilugam, Batticaloa. 

Further, naval personnel took 4 local fishermen along with 2 FGDs into custody who engaged in illegal fishing in the seas north of Devils Point. During the arrest 2 GPS units, 3 fishing nets and 11 kg of crab were apprehended by the Navy. The arrested persons and the items were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Kilinochchi for onward action.