The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 05 Indian trawlers along with 27 Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Mannar as well as near the Delft and Kachchativu Islands, Jaffna last night (14).The apprehension has been carried out in special operations conducted by the North Central Naval Command and Northern Naval Command, after having spotted they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.In these operations, the North Central Naval Command has held 02 Indian poaching trawlers that continued to remain in island waters off Mannar, with 15 Indian fishers aboard. In the same vein the Northern Naval Command apprehended 03 Indian poaching trawlers with 12 Indian fishermen who were poaching near the Delft and Kachchativu Islands, the navy said.The apprehended Indian fishermen and the poaching trawlers were brought to the Talaimannar Pier and Kankasanthurai harbour and they will be handed over to the Talaimannar and Jaffna Fisheries Inspectors for onward legal action, according to the navy.Including the poaching trawlers held in this operation, the Sri Lanka Navy has seized 22 Indian poaching trawlers and apprehended 137 Indian fishermen thus far in 2023.

Following these apprehensions, the poaching trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to relevant authorities for legal action, the navy said.