SRI LANKA COAST GUARD APPREHENDED A FISHING VESSEL WITH ILLEGALLY HARVESTED DRIED 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 five fishermen in possession of illegally harvested dried Shark fins on 25^th February 2022.

The apprehension was made while conducting an onboard inspection in Multiday Fishing Trawler and found 65 Nos of dried Shark fins (approx 750g) hidden on top of the roof onboard when they returned after fishing. Retaining, transshipping, or landing the ‘parts of any shark species’ is an offence under the Shark Fisheries Management (High Seas) Regulations, 2015.

The arrested persons with apprehended items were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector, Beruwala for onward legal actions.