SRI LANKA COAST GUARD ARRESTED A FISHING VESSEL WITH ILLEGALLY HARVESTED SHARK FLESH

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Beruwala Fishery Harbour for fishery monitoring and regulating duties apprehended a Multiday Fishing Vessel along with two fishermen in possession of illegally harvested Shark flesh on 20^th December 2022.

The apprehension was made based on the information provided by the Coast Guard personnel. During the onboard inspection, Coast Guard personnel found Common Thresher Shark flesh without fins (approx. 23 Kg 800g) and Oceanic Whitetip Shark flesh without fins (approx. 16 Kg 300g) hidden inside the Fishing Vessel 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 of Beruwala for onward legal action.