A series of coordinated operations targeting illegal fishing across Sri Lanka’s coastal waters between July 16 and 31 has led to the arrest of 36 individuals, the Navy announced.

The first operation, conducted jointly by the Navy and Police on July 16 at the Salpearu coastal area in Nilaveli, resulted in the arrest of four suspects engaged in fishing with winches and tractors, in violation of fisheries regulations. Two tractors used in the activity were also seized.

Subsequent naval operations carried out from July 17 to 31 across multiple regions led to the apprehension of 32 more suspects. During these raids, personnel confiscated 17 dinghies and one cab used in unlawful fishing practices.

The operations were conducted by the Eastern, Northern, North Central, and Northwestern Naval Commands, covering coastal areas including Salpearu, Thuduwa, Pigeon Island, Sudaikuda, Alampil, Chilawaththai, Kaddaikaadu Kevil in Jaffna, Vankalapadu in Talaimannar, and Ippantivu off Kalpitiya.

The suspects, along with seized boats, vehicles, prohibited fishing equipment, and sea cucumbers, were handed over to Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources offices in Kuchchaveli, Cod Bay, Muthur, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Mannar, and Puttalam for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy arrested 41 individuals in coordinated operations across island waters from April 1 to 15, conducted jointly with the Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to curb destructive and unauthorized fishing practices. 

Naval personnel also seized 11 dinghies and two tractors used in illegal activities. 

The operations spanned coastal areas and lagoons including Chemmalai, Cheddipalayam, Elizabeth Island, Foul Point, Clappenburg Point, Uppural, Nandikadal Lagoon, Alampil, Elephant Island, Puduwakattu in Trincomalee, Uchchamunai in Puttalam, and Komar Point in Jaffna, executed by the Eastern, Northern, and Northwestern Naval Commands. 

The raids yielded sea cucumbers, commercial-grade explosives, and banned fishing gear. 

The suspects and seized equipment were handed over to Fisheries Department offices in Mullaitivu, Kinniya, Cod Bay, Ichchalanpattu, Kaluwanchikudy, Kilinochchi, and Puttalam, as well as the STF in Pulmoddai, for further legal action. (Newswire)

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The Maldivian Coast Guard on Wednesday captured two Sri Lankan fishing boats found within the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The interception of the Sri Lankan vessels was announced by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in a statement on Thursday morning.

The vessels are accused of operating illegally within the Maldives’ EEZ.

According to the MNDF, the vessels were taken into custody by the Coast Guard at around 08:30 am on Wednesday, from 51 nautical miles east of HA. Kelaa.

This was carried out in a surveillance operation run by the Coast Guard in collaboration with the Air Corps, based on information shared by neighbouring countries.

The MNDF did not say how many people were on the boats.

According to the MNDF, the boats were taken to Kulhudhuffushi City, and the case has been handed over to the police for investigation. (Newswire)

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A total of 50 individuals have been apprehended for engaging in illegal fishing activities at multiple locations across Sri Lanka from October 27 to November 10. 

According to the Sri Lanka Navy, 13 dinghies, 01 traditional boat and a motor bicycle have also been seized during separate operations conducted during this period. 

The operations were conducted in the coastal areas of Irakkandi, Lankapatuna, Kokilai, Bolder Point, Vakarai, Jaya Nagar, Kinniya and Jinna Puram in Trincomalee, Negombo, Galle, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda, Addalaichenai in Ampara, and Pallemunai in Mannar, by the Eastern, Western, Southern, Southeastern, and North Central Naval Commands. 

These individuals were held for their involvement in fishing with unauthorized nets, using explosives and practicing illegal fishing methods.

The suspects have been handed over to the Fisheries Inspectors of Trincomalee, Negombo, Echchalampattu, Mullaitivu, Kuchchaveli, Valaichchenai East, Galle, Kinniya, Kalmunai and Manmunai for legal action. (Newswire)

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Forty-five (45) individuals involved in various illegal fishing activities have been apprehended along with 11 dinghies, 02 canoes and 01 cab in multiple locations across Sri Lanka from 29th September to 07th October 2025, according to the Sri Lanka Navy.  

The arrests have been made during separate operations conducted by the Navy with the assistance of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Police Special Task Force (STF).

The 45 individuals were arrested in the coastal areas of Maleimunthal, Kokkuthuduwai, Boulder Point, Kokilai, Kadiraweli Point, Poduwakattu, Foul Point, Ottamawadi, Plantain Point, Kalkuda and Kallarawa in Trincomalee and in the town area of Jaffna by the Northern and Eastern Naval Commands.

They were nabbed for their involvement in fishing with unauthorized nets and explosives, engagement in illegal fishing methods and fishing practices without a valid licence.

The suspects, along with the fishing boats, a vehicle and unauthorized gear, have been handed over to the offices of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Jaffna, Kinniya, Mullaitivu, Kuchchaweli, Lankapatuna, Cod Bay and Batticaloa. (Newswire)

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Twenty-two (22) persons involved in various illegal fishing activities were apprehended along with 05 dinghies in several locations off the coast of Sri Lanka, in multiple operations conducted from 23 to 31 July 2025.

The arrests were made during separate operations conducted by the Navy in coordination with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Meanwhile, 01 person with 210 unauthorized fishing nets was also nabbed during another operation conducted with the Police.

According to the Navy, the group of 22 suspects were arrested by the Eastern and North Central Naval Commands in the coastal areas of Cod Bay, Kumburupiddi, Kinniya, Flag Staff Point and Muttur in Trincomalee and Karativu in Mannar.

They were nabbed for fishing with unauthorized nets and explosives, and engaging in illegal diving, while Naval personnel also held 06 unauthorized fishing nets and 05 dinghies during the operations.

Similarly, during a combined search operation conducted in the Kantale area by the Eastern Naval Command in collaboration with the Kantale Police, one suspect was arrested with 210 unauthorized fishing nets prepared for sale. 

The suspects, along with fishing boats and unauthorized gear seized in these raids, were handed over to the offices of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Trincomalee, Cod Bay and Mannar, as well as Kuchchaveli and Kantale Police stations for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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The Seychelles Supreme Court has convicted a Sri Lankan national to a fine of US$ 41,000 after being found guilty of illegally fishing in the island nation’s territorial waters, it was reported.

According to Seychelles News Agency, the police said on Wednesday that Makavita Liyanage Dilesh, 43, was the person in charge of the vessel Rankurulla 4 that was intercepted and arrested in the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on November 24 last year.

The presiding judge in the case took into consideration that the accused pled guilty and did not waste the court’s time. The convict is a married man with two children still at school and his family depends on his revenue to survive.

The Sri Lankan national revealed to the Court that the fish they caught was taken and sold for a sum of SCR 35,320 which was collected by the Seychelles Fishing Authority.

The fine is payable within 60 days if not, the convict will do a term of 18 months in prison.

Meanwhile, earlier this month 18 foreign vessels were intercepted and arrested in the Seychelles’ EEZ among which was a vessel from Sri Lanka, carrying eight crew members.

Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 million square kilometres which presents a challenge when it comes to monitoring illegal activities in the island nation’s waters. (NewsWire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has apprehended 53 persons for engaging in illegal fishing, during separate operations carried out from 09th to 15th February 2022. 

The Navy stated that along with the suspects, 13 dinghies, 01 fishing trawler, fishing gear, illegally caught fish, sea cucumber and conch shells were taken into naval custody.

The Sri Lanka Navy conducts regular operations in the coastal and sea areas of the country to prevent illegal fishing practices. As an extension of these efforts, SLNS Pussadewa in the North Central Naval Command nabbed 03 persons who were catching ornamental fish without a licence in the Achchanakulam sea area in Mannar on 09th February. The search operation also led to the seizure of about 325 ornamental fish, a dinghy as well as diving and fishing gear used for this illegal act.

Meanwhile, SLNS Gotaimbara in the Northern Naval Command apprehended a person (01) for illegally harvesting sea cucumber without a valid licence off Punkudutivu in Jaffna, during a special search carried out on 10th February. The Navy also took into custody about 119 illegally harvested sea cucumbers and a dinghy (01) in this search operation.

On 11th February, SLNS Pussadewa Pussadewa in the North Central Naval Command apprehended 08 individuals for harvesting sea cucumber illegally off Narivilkulam, Mannar on 11th February. The special search operation also led to the apprehension of about 78 illegally harvested sea cucumbers, a dinghy (01) as well as fishing and diving equipment.

In another two separate search operations mounted off the Palaitivu Island in Jaffna on 13th February, SLNS Kanchadewa in the Northern Naval Command apprehended 06 persons who were harvesting sea cucumber by illegal means. The naval personnel engaged in these operations also held about 163 illegally harvested sea cucumbers, 57 conch shells, 02 dinghies, diving gear and fishing equipment.

Meanwhile, SLNS Welusumana in the Northern Naval Command carried out a special search operation off the Kalmunai Point, Jaffna on 14th February and apprehended 24 individuals for illegal harvesting of sea cucumber. During the operation, about 509 illegally harvested sea cucumbers, 03 dinghies, 01 fishing trawler, diving gear and fishing equipment were also taken into naval custody.

In addition, the Naval Deployment Vettalakeni in the Northern Naval Command conducted special search operations in the sea area northeast of the island on the 14th and 15th of February and apprehended 11 persons for engaging in fishing by means of unauthorized fishing gear. The operation also led to the seizure of 05 dinghies and fishing gear used for this illegal act.

The suspects apprehended in these operations along with the illegally caught fish, sea cucumber and conch shells as well as their fishing and diving gear were handed over to fisheries inspectors in respective areas for legal action. (NewsWire)

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