The Sri Lanka Navy on May 31 rendered assistance to rescue six fishermen from a distressed local multi-day fishing trawlerwhich was about 480 nautical miles (889km) off Dondra, south of Sri Lanka.
The fishermen were rescued by a tanker in the sea area, on being coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
The local multi-day fishing trawler was reported to have left the Wennappuwa Fisheries Harbour with six fishermen on March 21, on a fishing voyage. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) alerted MRCC Colombo established at the Navy Headquarters to assist the crew onboard as their fishing trawler was in distress.
In a prompt response, the Navy swiftly notified merchant vessels in the vicinity to assist the distressed fishing trawler. Consequently, the nearby Japanese-flagged tanker MT ‘TONEGAWA’ arrived at the trawler’s location to assist.
Coordinated by MRCC Colombo, MT ‘TONEGAWA’ successfully rescued all six fishermen unharmed on May 31. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy ship will bring the rescued fishermen to shore in the coming days.
The Navy also nabbed 11 persons for engaging in illegal fishing, during separate operations conducted in the sea areas of Kadeikadu, Chundikulam, Kudarappu and Nagar Kovil in Jaffna on May 31. The operations also led to the seizure of five dinghies, unauthorized fishing gear and diving equipment employed for these illegal acts as well as 1,100 sea cucumbers.
The Sri Lanka Navy remains vigilant and conducts operations to combat illegal fishing in its sea and coastal areas, with a view to supporting legal fishing activities. As part of these ongoing initiatives, the Naval Detachment Chundikulam belonging to the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni in the Northern Naval Command intercepted three suspicious dinghies, during the operation carried out in the Kadeikadu and Chundikulam sea area. The search operation resulted in the apprehension of four persons for their involvement in light-coarse fishing. The Navy also held illegal fishing gear used for this unauthorized fishing method.
Moreover, the Naval Detachment Mamunai of the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni in the Northern Naval Command held two more suspicious dinghies in Kudarappu and Nagar Kovil sea areas. During the operation seven persons engaged in illegal night diving activities were held with diving equipment employed for this illegal act as well as 1,100 sea cucumbers. The individuals held in these operations were identified as residents of Mulliyan, Thalayadi, and Mannar, who are from 19 to 51 years of age. The 11 persons together with seized items were handed over to the Office of Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Jaffna for onward legal action.