Sri Lanka Navy Detains Nine Indian Fishermen for Illegal Fishing

The Sri Lanka Navy detained nine Indian fishermen and seized their fishing trawler on Wednesday night after the vessel crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line. The apprehension occurred off Urumalai Point in Talaimannar.

Naval authorities reported that the crew was using bottom trawling, a method that damages the seabed and marine ecosystems. This activity is particularly restricted within the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar, including the areas around Mannar Island and Adam's Bridge. The detained crew and the vessel are being transferred to the fisheries inspector in Mannar for legal proceedings.

This incident follows a broader pattern of confrontations between the Sri Lanka Navy and Indian vessels in the Palk Strait and surrounding waters. Sri Lankan authorities have intensified patrols in these regions to protect the nation's exclusive economic zone and local marine resources.