In special operations conducted last week, the Navy managed to apprehend 29 individuals along with their fishing gear for engaging in illegal fishing.
As such, the naval operations carried out in the Northern, Eastern and North-Central Naval Command resulted in the apprehension of 29 persons for engaging in unauthorized diving, using and storing banned fishing nets, and practicing light course fishing.
These arrests had been made in the seas off Vethalaikeni by Northern Command, off Norway Point, Salpayaru, Nayaru, Black Point, and in the Batticaloa lagoon; in Tuduwa by the Eastern Command; and in the seas off Nochchimunai by the North-Central Command. Along with the suspects, 11 fishing vessels and several other fishing gear were also seized by the Navy.
During another special search operation conducted by the Navy in Narivilakulam, Mannar, about 600 conch shells of less than 70mm in diameter had been recovered at the Narivilakulam Public Cemetery.
The suspects arrested in connection with these incidents, along with the seized items, were handed over to the Directors of Fisheries in Jaffna, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Kilinochchi, and Batticaloa.
