The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters in the dark hours of 09th March 2024 and today morning (10th March 2024). The operation led to the seizure of 03 Indian trawlers and apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse in Kareinagar.
The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.
As an extension of these operations, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian poaching trawlers, having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off the Kovilan Lighthouse. The operation resulted in the seizure of 03 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehension of 22 Indian fishermen continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized trawlers togethers (03) with 22 Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings.
With this recent apprehension, the Navy has seized a total of 15 Indian poaching trawlers and 110 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters in 2024, and subsequently handed them over to authorities for legal proceedings.