Naval vessels P 012 and P 215 attached to the North-central Naval Command assisted by P 483 of the Northern Naval Command arrested 22 Indian fishermen and 05 Indian fishing boats poaching in the seas off Mannar on 25th February 2012.
The arrest was made during a routine patrol on observing poaching in Sri Lankan waters violating the IMBL at several locations with the first detection made at 2130hrs and the last fast mid-night around 0215 hrs. The arrested fishermen and their fishing boats were handed over to Mannar Police for onward action.
Sri Lanka Navy conducts routine patrols to protect the Sri Lankan waters and its fisheries resources. Poachers and violators of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) are arrested and handed over to law enforcement authorities for legal action.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , February 27, 2012; Image: navy