23 Myanmarese poachers arrested

Port Blair, Feb 25 (PTI) Twenty-three Myanmaresenationals were apprehended by Coast Guard on the charge ofcatching sea cucumbers, an endangered marine species, from thewaters of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Coast Guard officials said they were held with twomechanised boats when trying to flee after catching seacucumbers from shallow waters off the North Reef and PagetIslands.

The poachers on sighting the Coast Guard ship tried toflee but were chased and caught after firing warning shotsfrom small firearms, sources said.

Large catch of sea cucumbers was recovered from boththe boats, Coast Guard officers said.

The detained Myanmarese nationals and the boats werehanded over to the police at Diglipur.

Eighty-one Myanmarese nationals along with 7 boatswere arrested last year for allegedly catching sea cucumbers.