Five (05) suspects who had engaged in illegal night diving to harvest sea cucumbers were arrested during special operations conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy off the coast of Vankalai and Silawathurai in Mannar yesterday.
According to the Navy, the operation also resulted in the seizure of 1055 illegally harvested sea cucumbers.
The arrest was made as part of the Sri Lanka Navy’s regular search operations and patrols in the coastal and sea areas around the island, with a view to preventing illegal fishing practices.
During the search operation conducted in the Vankalai beach area, SLNS Pussadewa in the North Central Naval Command apprehended 03 individuals who had engaged in night diving to harvest sea cucumbers and also seized 604 illegally harvested sea cucumbers.
A similar operation carried out by SLNS Therapuththa in the Silawathurai beach area led to the apprehension of 02 persons with 451 illegally harvested sea cucumbers.
The arrested suspects are residents of Vankalai and Silawathurai, aged between 28 and 68.
The suspects together with sea cucumbers have been handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Mannar and Fisheries Inspector of Silawathura for further action. (Newswire)