Sri Lankan Navy arrests 22 Indian fishermen for alleged poaching
Considering impact of foreign fishermen poaching in waters on local fishing community, and threats to biodiversity, Sri Lankan Navy has been conducting regular patrols
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Sri Lanka, February 24: The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 22 Indian fishermen, and seized two fishing trawlers for poaching in the country's territorial waters, said an official statement on Thursday. This is the fourth such incident involving Indians in the island nation this month.
The issue also figured in the talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris last week during the latter's official visit to India.
The arrests were made during a patrol carried out on February 23. They were indulging in bottom trawling, said the Navy. Considering the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community, and threats to biodiversity of the country's marine environment, Navy has been conducting regular patrols and operations to curb such illegal activities of foreign fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, said Navy in a statement.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 22 Indian fishermen for alleged poaching
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 24, 2022
On February 13, the Navy arrested 12 Indian fishermen and seized two fishing trawlers. On February 8, the Navy arrested 11 Indian fishermen and seized three fishing trawlers and on February 1, twenty-one Indian fishermen were arrested.
The issue also figured in the talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris last week during the latter's official visit to India.
Also Read | 56 released Indian fishers in Sri Lanka to be moved to immigration detention centre: Prison authorities
The arrests of Indian fishermen come as the local immigration officials are making arrangements to repatriate 56 Indian fishermen who were arrested in December. The arrests of Indians and the local fishermen's agitations seeking govt action to stop Indian fishing boats have expanded over the fortnight.
