Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Illegal fishing cases

Illegal fishing:505 cases filed


Cases against

* Dynamiting

* Illegal nets, equipment

* Unregistered boats

* Non-renewal of fishing licences


The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has filed 505 cases against fishermen and other employees using illegal fishing vessels’ equipment and transport methods in the fisheries industry.
Around 505 cases have been filed for violating the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Act.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne urged those in the fisheries industry to help detect illegal fishing vessels and equipment so that legal action could be taken against those using them. Fisheries organizations also have a great responsibility to protect fisheries and aquatic resources from the harm caused by illegal fishing methods, the minister said.
Senaratne stated that all fishermen have to register their vessels and obtain fisheries licences as well if not legal action will be taken against them.
According to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Act, fishing with dynamite, spot light fishing, using non-permitted chemicals, pushing nets and tank boats are prohibited in fisheries industry as they are harmful to fisheries and aquatic resources.
According to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry sources the number of cases filed against illegal fishing are 183 from Batticaloa, 104 from Puttalam, 55 from Trincomalee, 59 from Kalmunai, 49 from Negombo, 17 from Galle, 16 from Mannar, 9 from Tangalle, 8 from Kalutara and eight other cases from Matara and Chilaw.
They noted that 398 cases out of those are regarding dynamiting using illegal nets and equipment.

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