SRI LANKA COAST GUARD APPREHENDED A FISHING VESSEL WITH ILLEGALLY HARVESTED SHARK FINS AND FISH

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Beruwala Fishery Harbour for fishery monitoring and regulating duties apprehended a Multiday Fishing Vessel along with six fishermen in possession of illegally harvested Shark fins and fish on 20^th January 2023.

The apprehension was made while conducting an onboard inspection in Multiday Fishing Vessel and found 130 Nos of Shark fins (approx 21 Kg 250g), 02 Nos Common Thresher Shark Fish (approx 62 Kg 100g) and 07 Nos Oceanic Whitetip Shark fish (approx. 127Kg 850g) 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 Fishery Inspector, Beruwala for onward legal actions.