SRI LANKA COAST GUARD APPREHENDED A FISHING VESSEL WITH ILLEGALLY HARVESTED SHARK FINS

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Beruwala Fishery Harbour for fishery monitoring and regulating duties apprehended a Multiday Fishing Vessel along with six fishermen in possession of illegally harvested Shark Fins on 29^th September 2021.

SLCG personnel found 139 dried Shark Fins (approx. 4.3Kg) concealed on board, during a search operation when the Multiday Fishing Vessel returned harbour after month-long fishing. The retaining on board, transhipping or landing the ‘parts of any shark species’ is an offence under the Shark Fisheries Management (High Seas) Regulations, 2015.

This Multiday Fishing Vessel was also involved in the transferring ashore of two of the four Somalian nationals rescued by another Multiday Fishing Vessel on 25^th August 2021 in high seas while drifting due to technical failure. The arrested persons with apprehended items were handed over to Fisheries Inspector, Beruwala for onward legal actions. Two Somalian nationals were handed over to OIC Beruwala police station for onward legal actions, in liaison with the Department of Immigration and Emigration.