Sri Lanka Navy has apprehended a total of 21 Indian fishermen who were poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the coasts of Mannar and Kovilan in Kankesanturai.

The fishermen were taken into custody in two separate operations mounted by the North Central Naval Command and the Northern Naval Command on Wednesday evening (Dec.06).
 
The operations also led to the seizure of 4 Indian trawlers.

The two naval commands had deployed their Fast Attack Craft and Inshore Patrol Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, after having spotted them engaging in illegal fishing off the Sri Lankan coast.

The North Central Naval Command has held 01 Indian poaching trawler with 08 Indian fishers on board.

In the same vein, the Northern Naval Command apprehended 03 Indian poaching trawlers with 13 Indian fishermen who were poaching off Kovilan.

The apprehended Indian fishermen the poaching trawlers were subsequently brought ashore to the Talaimannar Pier and Kankesanturai Harbour. They are to be handed over to the Talaimannar and Jaffna Fisheries Inspectors for onward legal action.

Including the poaching trawlers held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy says it has impounded 31 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 195 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023.

The navy assures that it will continue to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the consequences of these practices on the livelihood of local fishermen and marine resources of the country.