Naval operations carried out in Eastern, Northern, Northwestern and North Central Naval Commands in the past 02 weeks led to the seizure of 10219 sea cucumbers illegally harvested through night diving and apprehension of a group of individuals and diving gear used for this illegal act. Sri Lanka Navy has increased its day and night patrols covering the seas around the island in an attempt to prevent adverse effects on the marine environment, due to illegal fishing practices by a handful of individuals with scant regard in island’s waters.
update:
Navy arrests 75 persons with 10,219 illegally-harvested sea cucumbers
Naval personnel arrested 75 persons with 10,219 illegally-harvested sea cucumbers during a special operation that was carried out in the Eastern, Northern, Northwestern, and North-Central provinces during the past two weeks. It is believed that the stock had been harvested through night-diving, the Navy stated in a communiqué recently.
The North-Central Naval Command, during patrols conducted on the seas near Walaipadu and Iranativu, arrested 53 individuals with 6,878 sea cucumbers. Eleven dinghies, as well as diving gear, were also taken into custody, the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Eastern and Northwestern Naval Commands apprehended 22 persons with 3,341 sea cucumbers on the seas off the coasts of Sallimunai, Arippu, Kondachchikuda, and Kalpitiya. Their diving gear, along with seven dinghies, were also seized in the raids, the Navy stated.
Moreover, naval operations carried out in the Eastern, Northern, Northwestern, North Central, and Southeastern Naval Commands between February 16 and March 30 has led to the arrests of 128 more individuals engaged in illegal fishing, with 41 more fishing vessels also being seized. The reasons for arrests include fishing without valid licences, use of unauthorised fishing nets, possession of illegally-caught lobsters and shark fins, as well as fishing in restricted areas.
The suspects taken into custody in the operations have been identified as residents of Trincomalee, Point Pedro, Lunuwila, Thoduwawa, Negombo, Gandara, Kuchchaveli, Sendun, Kinniya, Pothuvil, Kudiraweli, Karadikuli, Kalpitiya, Jinnamuham, Silawathura, Puttalam, Mannar, Allapiddi, China Bay, Arippu, Kandakkuliya, Nachchikuda, Sallisambalthivu, Gurunagr, Talaimannar, Poduwakattu, Vankalai, Muthur, Kiranchi, Sivapuram, Mulankavil Ambalantota, and Tissamaharama. They are between the ages of 17 and 61.
The suspects have been handed over to the respective police stations for further action. Investigations are continuing.
Some of the seized sea cucumbers and fishing gear.
