The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 01 Indian fishing boat with 18 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
According to the Navy, the arrest was made during a special operation conducted off Veththalakerni in Jaffna yesterday.
When the apprehension was made, the fishing boat had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line by approximately 30 nautical miles, entering Sri Lankan waters.
As part of the Navy’s continuous patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft attached to the Command to send away a cluster of Indian fishing boats, having spotted that they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off Veththalakerni.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing boat with 18 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized boat together with the Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour, where they were handed over to the Regional Director of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Northern Region for legal action.
With this recent apprehension, the Navy and Coast Guard have seized a total of 66 Indian fishing boats and arrested 515 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters, so far in 2024. (Newswire)