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

Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel deployed at Dikovita Fishery Harbour for fishery monitoring and regulating duties apprehended two Multiday Fishing Vessels along with 14 fishermen in possession of illegally harvested dried Shark fins and shark fish on 30^th January 2023.

The apprehension was made while conducting an onboard inspection in Multiday Fishing Trawlers and found 10.9kg dried shark fish and 2.4kg dried shark fins hidden inside the boats when they returned after fishing. Retaining, transshipping, or landing the ‘parts of any shark species’ is an offence under the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ACT 1996 NO 02 order NO 3 (i).

The arrested persons with apprehended items were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Dikovita for further legal action.