Sixteen Indian poachers who engaged in illegal fishing practices in the Sri Lankan waters were arrested at two separate locations yesterday (22), Sri Lanka Navy said.
Accordingly, fast attack craft attached to the Northern Naval Command with the assistance of Sri Lanka Coast Guard apprehended 8 Indian fishermen along with a steel hull fishing trawler for poaching in the seas Northwest of Analathivu Island.
Having brought the fishermen and items to the Naval Base SLNS Elara, they will be handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Director for onward investigations, the SLN media unit said.
Further, 8 more Indian poachers and a wooden hull fishing trawler were arrested while engaging in illegal fishing activities in the sea area North of Mannar by the Naval personnel onboard two Fast Attack Craft attached to the North Central Naval Command.
The arrested fishermen and their belongings are due to be produced before the Mannar Fisheries Director, upon bringing them to the Naval Base SLNS Thammanna.
