Pudukottai, Jul 11 (UNI) The Sri Lankan Naval personnel on Thursday arrested 13 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and confiscated their three fishing trawlers on the charges of engaging in illegal poaching in their territorial waters off the Delft Island.
Tamil Nadu fisheries officials said here that the incarcerated fishermen hailed from Pudukottai district were detained by Sri Lankan maritime forces while fishing on high seas close to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy in a statement claimed that they conduct regular patrols and operations to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers.
As part of the special operations, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft to chase away a cluster of Indian trawlers, resulting in the apprehension of 13 fishermen and seizure of three Indian trawlers.
The seized trawlers together with arrested Indian fishermen were taken to the Kankesanthurai harbour, where they were handed over to the fisheries officials for onward legal proceedings.
With this, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 252 Indian fishermen and seized a total of 345 Indian trawlers poaching in Lankan waters, so far this year.
