SRI LANKA COAST GUARD ARRESTED TWO PERSONS WITH ILLEGALLY HARVESTED SHARK FLESH

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Dikovita Fishery Harbour for fishery monitoring and regulating duties arrested a person whilst attempting to transfer prohibited Shark flesh by a Freezer Lorry on 22^nd July 2022.

This arrest was made based on the information received by the Coast Guard personnel. During the investigation Coast Guard personnel found 05 Nos of Oceanic Whitetip Shark flesh (approx. 123 Kg) inside the Freezer Lorry. Following the investigations, Coast Guard Personnel arrested the Skipper of the Multiday Fishing Vessel that illegally harvested the prohibited Sharks. 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 of Dikovita for onward legal actions.