Sri Lankan Navy arrests 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters

Rameswaram, July 5: The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday arrested 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters and two mechanized boats used by them seized.

 

The Assitant Director of Fisheries department, Manikandan said nearly 3,000 fishermen from Ramanathapuram had ventured into the sea on July 4 and were fishing near Karainagar in the Sri Lankan waters early on July 5 morning, when the Sri Lankan naval personnel came to the spot and rounded up two boats.

While those in other boats managed to escape, 12 fishermen were arrested and taken to Kangesanthurai port along with their boats, the official said. The fishermen were charged with poaching fish in their territorial waters using the banned fishing net, he added.

This is the first incident of arrest after the fishing ban period ended on June 14. On June 28, more than 2,500 fishermen from this island town were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu.