Fishermen crosses IMBL, TN cancels licenses of 9 boats

Rameswaram, Mar 30 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has cancelled the licenses of nine mechanised fishing boats for violating the government rules by crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in the Sri Lankan Territorial waters.

Official sources here today said the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy had intercepted the nine fishing boats, which had strayed into Lankan waters after crossing the IMBL, recently.

The boats, manned by twenty fishermen, were seized by the authorities and later handed over to the officials of the State Fisheries Department here for further action.

The licenses were cancelled today after the official enquiry revealed that the fishermen had violated the government norms.

Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department had announced that a 45-day ban on fishing would come into effect from April 15 onwards as part of the annual exercise to improve marine wealth.

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