Thirteen persons held for illegal fishing

Thirteen persons who engaged in illegal fishing were apprehended by Navy during patrols carried out in the seas off Walaithottam and Kumburuppidi areas in Trincomalee, in the last two days, Navy said.

As Navy is conducting constant patrols to curb illegal practices of fishing, two suspicious dinghies were searched and nine persons who engaged in illegal fishing using banned nets were apprehended by Navy, during a patrol conducted in the seas off Walaithottam area in Trincomalee, on June 2. The Navy also seized 10kg of illegally caught fish, 02 dinghies and some fishing gear.

During another operation carried out on June 1, in the seas off Kumburuppidi area, by searching a suspicious dinghy Navy managed to hold 04 persons who used diving gear for illegal fishing along with 18kg of fish and 1.5kg of sea cucumber. The dinghy, diving and fishing gear used by them were also taken into custody.

These persons apprehended by the naval personnel attached to the Eastern Naval Command, are residents of Trincomalee, Erakkandi and Mavaddichena areas. The suspects along with dinghies, fish and sea cucumber caught by them and other fishing gear were handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries-Trincomalee and to the Fisheries Inspector-Kuchchaweli for onward action.