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

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Negombo and Beruwala Fishery Harbour for fishery monitoring and regulating duties arrested two Multiday Fishing Trawlers along with 14 fishermen in possession of illegally harvested Shark fins and shark fish on 05^th January 2023.

The apprehension was made during the arrival inspection of the Fishing Trawlers after fishing and found 54kg of dried Shark fish and 4.79kg of dried shark fins hidden inside the boat. Retaining, transshipping, selling, or landing the ‘parts of any shark species’ is an offence under order number 4 of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources act 1996 No 2.

The arrested persons with apprehended items were handed over to the Beruwala and Negombo Fisheries Inspectors for further investigation.