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| Sunday, 12 December 2004 |
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Team to probe illegal fishing by Anton Nonis As the menace of Indian fishermen poaching the Northern seas of Sri Lanka goes on unabated, the Cabinet has appointed a probe committee comprising secretaries of the ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Internal Security, Fisheries and Agriculture. The committee will study all matters pertaining to Indian fishermen poaching the seas off the Jaffna peninsula after the ceasefire agreement was reached with the LTTE two years ago. Investigations by the Sri Lanka authorities have revealed about 1000 Indian trawlers being engaged in fishing by poaching the Northern seas almost on a daily basis. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director General (Development), A. Hettiarachchi, said that despite stringent measures taken by the Sri Lanka Navy and the local fishermen to apprehend the poachers, confiscate the vessels and take legal action against the offenders, they had proved ineffective. Besides, the losses sustained due to illegal fishing in the country's territorial waters, resulting in damages to the outer environment and fishing gear of local fishermen were also said to be enormous, according to Hettiarachchi. |
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