Sri Lanka's Navy vessels are displayed during Sri Lanka's Navy Day celebrations in Colombo on Dec 9, 2022. (PHOTO / AFP)

COLOMBO - The Sri Lankan navy and the coast guard seized two Indian trawlers and arrested 19 Indian fishermen who were poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters off the Delft Island in the north of the country, the navy said in a press release on Thursday.

The navy and the coast guard made these arrests during an operation to chase away Indian trawlers that were poaching in Sri Lankan waters on Wednesday night, the navy said.

The navy said it has so far apprehended 12 Indian trawlers and 88 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters so far in 2024

The seized trawlers and the 19 fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai harbor, and they were handed over to the local authority for legal action, the navy said.

The navy said it has so far apprehended 12 Indian trawlers and 88 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters so far in 2024.

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The navy said that they conduct regular patrols in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign trawlers, taking into account the consequences of these practices on the livelihood of local fishermen and the marine resources of the South Asian country.

The Sri Lankan navy arrested 343 people engaged in illegal activities and confiscated thousands of kg of contraband in 2023.