SRI LANKA COAST GUARD APPREHENDS ILLEGALLY HARVESTED SHARK FINS

Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) personnel deployed at Mirissa Fishery Harbour arrested six fishermen whilst possessing illegally harvested shark fins on 22^nd October 2023.

A Sri Lankan fishing trawler was arrested by Sri Lanka Navy’s Fast Attack Craft due to suspicious activities at sea and handed over to Sri Lanka Coast Guard personnel who were attached to Mirissa Fishing Monitoring Point to inspect for illegal materials. Upon inspection, it was found 51 pieces (800 g) of dried Shark fins and 24kg of dried shark (without fins). The arrested persons with apprehended items were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector - Mirissa for further investigation.

Arrest was made with the provisions of retaining, transshipping, selling, or landing any parts of a shark species is considered an offense under order number 4 of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act 1996 No. 2.