Sri Lanka Army arrests 54 Indian fishermen, grasp five trawlers

The Sri Lankan Army has arrested a minimum of 54 Indian fishermen and seized 5 trawlers for allegedly poaching within the nation’s territorial waters, an reliable commentary stated on Thursday.

The Army arrested the fishermen on Wednesday off the coast of northern and northeastern spaces.

“Having regarded as the affect of overseas fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters at the native fishing neighborhood and the sustainability of fishery assets of Sri Lanka, the Army is accomplishing common patrols to curb unlawful fishing actions in Sri Lankan waters,” the Army stated within the commentary.

The Army nabbed a big Indian fishing vessel with 14 body of workers on board, about three nautical miles off the coast of Kovilan in Jaffna.

Two extra Indian fishing vessels with 20 body of workers for enticing in trawling had been arrested about 7 nautical miles off Pesalai, Mannar and five nautical miles off the Iranativu Island, the commentary stated.

Two extra Indian fishing vessels with 20 body of workers had been arrested about 7.five and eight.five nautical miles off Mullaitivu. The 2 vessels had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters about 62 nautical miles, crossing the Global Boundary Line (IMBL) when the apprehension was once made, the Army stated in a commentary.

The Army stated it had in the past knowledgeable the Indian government when equivalent incidents of trawling by way of Indian fishermen had been reported.

“The unlawful access of overseas fishermen into Sri Lankan waters and using prohibited fishing strategies like backside trawling to catch even very small fish has significantly threatened the marine ecosystem and endanger the livelihood of fishermen within the northern a part of the island.”

In January, the Sri Lankan Army arrested 9 Indian fishermen and seized one mechanised boat for allegedly fishing in that nation’s waters.