Indian fishermen arrested while bottom trawling in Mannar seas

Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted an Indian trawler with 08 Indian fishermen onboard while poaching in Sri Lankan waters. 

The apprehension was made in seas north of Talaimannar, during a patrol carried out on the night of February 26.

The apprehension was made during a patrol carried out by a Fast Attack Craft of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla (4 FAF), attached to the North Central Naval Command in seas north of Talaimannar. 

Accordingly, the Navy took hold of the Indian trawler with 08 Indian fishermen who were engaging in the illegal fishing method known as ‘bottom trawling’ in island waters, through the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The operation was conducted adhering to COVID-19 protocols and arrangements are being made to hand over the Indian poaching vessel and fishermen held in the operation to relevant authorities, the navy said.

Including this Indian trawler, the Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted a total of 09 Indian fishing vessels with 59 fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters, thus far in the month of February 2022.

Sri Lanka Navy says it has been conducting regular patrols and operations to curb illegal fishing activities of foreign fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, taking into account the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community and threats to the biodiversity of the country’s marine environment.