Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development says that strict rules will be applied on fishing boats seized while engaging in fishing in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters in the future. The draft bill amending the Fisheries Act No 59 of 1979 (Foreign Fisheries boats Regulation Act) presented to the parliament by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera last month was passed in the parliament and the Speaker has given approval to gazette it. Under this act, foreign fishing craft illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters can be fined Rs. 1.5 million up to Rs. 175 million. The jail term for poaching fishermen is also extended to one year, the Ministry of Fisheries said.