SRI LANKA COAST GUARD APPREHENDED TWO FISHING VESSELS WITH ILLEGALLY HARVESTED SHARK FLESH, DRIED SHARK FINS AND FISH

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Beruwala and Dikovita Fishery Harbours for fishery monitoring and regulating duties apprehended two Multiday Fishing Vessels along with 14 fishermen in possession of illegally harvested Shark flesh, dried Shark fins and fish on 18^th July 2022.

These apprehensions were made based on the information provided by the Coast Guard personnel. During the onboard inspection Coast Guard personnel found 07 Nos of Common Thresher Shark flesh (approx. 214 Kg), 07 Nos of Shark flesh without fins (approx. 234 Kg), 24 Nos of dried Shark fins (approx 3.8 Kg) and dried Shark fish (approx. 112 Kg) hidden inside these Fishing Vessels 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 Inspectors of Beruwala and Dikovita respectively for onward legal actions.