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Poaching continues: Three boats and 18 fishers taken into custody so far in 2025
Indian fishers continue their illegal fishing operations in Sri Lankan waters despite talks at the highest level between India and Sri Lanka regarding poaching by the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet,
The Navy apprehended two Indian fishing boats along with eight fishermen in the seas north of Mannar over the weekend.
Senior SLN sources said that after spotting a cluster of Indian fishing boats operating north of Mannar, the Northern Naval Command had deployed its Fast Attack Craft and North Central Naval Command its Inshore Patrol Craft to drive away those Indian fishing boats.
The boats, together with the Indian fishermen, were brought to Iranativu island and they were to be handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Kilinochchi, for legal proceedings.
The Navy has seized three Indian fishing boats and 18 Indian fishermen so far this year.President Anura Kumara Disanayake raised the illegal fishing carried out by the Tamil Nadu fleet during talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16 .