A high-level meeting to review strategies for curbing illegal fishing and poaching activities within Sri Lanka’s waters has focused on preventive measures, law enforcement actions, and inter-agency cooperation to effectively counter these emerging challenges.
The meeting, co-chaired by Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, and the Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), was held at the Parliament premises recently (11).
Several key issues, including poaching by local and foreign fishing vessels in local waters, expediting court cases related to arrested fishing boats, the use of unauthorized radio frequencies, and non-fishing activities such as smuggling carried out under the guise of fishing, were taken up for deliberation at the meeting.
Particular attention was given to the practice of local fishing vessels deliberately disabling their Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to engage in unlawful fishing and illicit activities within prohibited areas.
Participants highlighted the urgent need to strengthen maritime law enforcement, enhance inter-agency coordination, and implement technological solutions to ensure real-time monitoring of fishing vessels.
The importance of enforcing strict legal actions against violators to protect national fisheries resources and the livelihoods of legitimate fishermen was also underscored.
This session was held as a continuation of the previous high-level meeting on the same subject, reaffirming the government’s sustained commitment to eradicating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and illicit activities in Sri Lankan waters. (Newswire)