The Indian Coast Guard has seized two tonnes of sea cucumber worth over 7 million Indian rupees in the international market from 16 Sri Lankan fishermen in Lakshadweep islands, 188 nautical miles off Mangalore.

Addressing presspersons in Manglore, Rajamani Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Indian Coast Guard and Commander of Coast Guard in Karnataka, said the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Rajdoot apprehended the Sri Lankan boat Colombo Marine on April 7 for poaching on the high seas in Indian exclusive economic zone at Chereapani reef, which is the northernmost point of Lakshadweep islands.

The operation was accomplished after four hours of hot pursuit in coordination with the Coast Guard surveillance aircraft – Dornier 776 – with assistance from a fishing boat St Antony.

The Sri Lankan fishing boat with 16 fishermen onboard was in possession of two tonnes of sea cucumbers worth $1.2 lakh in the international market, he said. Fishing of sea cucumber is prohibited under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972.

Anupam Rai, Commandant of ICGS Rajdoot, said sea cucumber is consumed in China and some Southeast Asian countries. This has cosmetic and medicinal value also.

He said the Sri Lankan fishing boat had set sail from Colombo on March 25, and reached the northernmost tip of the Lakshadweep islands on April 1. They were into fishing of sea cucumber for almost a week.

The fishing boat had sophisticated fishing and diving gears and high-tech communication equipment, and the fishermen onboard knew night diving operations also, he said.

Sharma said Coast Guard handed over the fishermen and the boat to the Karnataka police, The Hindu reported.