Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 26: Personnel of Coast Guard arrested 29 Sri Lankan fishermen, who had strayed into the Indian waters illegally, and were found to be poaching sea cucumbers, catching of which is banned. Two fishing boats and about 9,300 kg of sea cucumbers were seized from their possession at around 4.30 pm that day.

The above catch commands high price in the international market, and the stock now confiscated is estimated to be worth several lacs of rupees.

On the night of Friday, some fishermen had alerted Kavaratti police station at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, about sighting of two unidentified fishing trawlers at the sea at Cherbaniani, about 35 km off Lakshadweep seashore. The fishermen said these boats were undertaking fishing under suspicious circumstances.

After this information was passed on to the central office by the Coast Guard, a surveillance aircraft was sent and information was collected. The officials and staff then visited the spot in a vigilance ship and checked documents in the possession of the people of the said boats. After finding that the boats were of Sri Lankan origin, the fishermen were taken into custody, stock of sea cucumber was confiscated, and both the trawlers were seized.

The Coast Guard has registered case of illegal entry into Indian waters against the fishermen. The arrested fishermen are expected to be brought to New Mangalore Port here on Monday for taking further legal action. They are likely to be then handed over to the Coastal Security Police Force here.