Sri Lanka arrests 7 Indian fishermen for illegal poaching

The Sri Lanka Navy assisted the Sri Lanka Coast Guard to arrest seven Indian fishermen poaching illegally in the northern seas of the island country, the navy media said on Tuesday.

The fishermen were arrested in waters northwest of Delft Island on Monday and were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Jaffna for onward action, and two Indian fishing trawlers were also taken into custody, said the navy.

Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said on Monday that there had been a 50-percent drop in poaching by Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters due to enhanced patrolling by the Sri Lankan Navy and coast guard.

"At least three Indian fishing boats enter Sri Lankan waters every week, which is nearly 5,000 fishing boats entering our waters illegally each year. This is a huge threat to the Sri Lankan fishing industry," Amaraweera said.

The minister further said Sri Lanka and India will have more talks to seek a solution to the long-standing disputes between fishermen, and the Indian foreign minister and fisheries minister were expected to attend the talks in Colombo next month.

source: Xinhua