Sri Lankan fishing boat seized in Andaman

Port Blair, Aug 19 (UNI) A Sri Lankan boat was seized by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Varad as it was found fishing illegally in Indian waters in the Andaman and Nicobar region.

Indian Coast Guard informed here today that during a routine patrol in the Bay of Bengal, the caost guard ship sighted a vessel at 180 miles north east of Chennai in the wee hours of Sunday.

On seeing the ship, the crew on the fishing boat started the engines and hurriedly picked up fishing nets, Coast Guard PRO in Andaman Commandant Akshay Jain told UNI.

Mr Jain said that on inspection, it became apparent that the boat with a crew of seven had left Mirissa fishing harbour in Sri Lanka on August 9 for fishing into Indian waters.

They were apprehended under Maritime Zones of India Act 1981 and the vessel was being escorted to Chennai for handing over to police for further legal action, he added.

It is noteworthy that after a long time, a Sri Lankan boat has been apprehended for fishing in Indian waters. Usually hundreds of Myanmarese poachers are caught every year from Andaman Sea.

UNI SKR SB PK HT1858