The Sri Lanka Navy has apprehended 08 persons for their involvement in illegal fishing using unauthorized fishing nets, during a search operation conducted in Upparu sea area of Muthur on Sunday (14).
During this operation, navy has also taken custody of a dinghy and unauthorized fishing equipment used for this illegal act.
Having spotted the suspicious dinghy, SLNS Parakumba in the Eastern Naval Command has taken the eight individuals into custody, along with their fishing gear and the dinghy after conducting a more thorough search of the dinghy.
The persons held in this operation have been identified as residents of Kinniya area, who are aged between 23 and 63. The individuals along with the seized items were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Muthur for onward legal action, the navy said.
