The Sri Lanka Navy released an Olive Ridley turtle, which was entangled in a fishing net, in the seas west to the Kovilan Lighthouse on Wednesday (30) evening.
During routine patrol, a craft attached to the Northern Naval Command had spotted this rare species of sea turtle which has faced the threat of existence, entangled in a fishing net cast by fishermen. Accordingly, the sea turtle was rescued and safely released back to the ocean by the sailors.
The Sri Lanka Navy is taking measures for the conservation of sea turtles that have been classified as endangered in the marine environment. In the meantime, the Navy apprehended five persons for engaging in illegal fishing, during a patrol carried out in the seas off Mullikulam on Wednesday evening.
The suspects were apprehended with unauthorized nets. Accordingly, a dinghy, an unauthorized net, an OBM and other fishing gears were taken into naval custody. The suspects, aged between 20 and 46 years, were identified as residents of the Silawathura area.
The suspects together with the seized items were handed over to the Office of the Fisheries Inspector-Mannar for onward action. Continuous patrols are carried out by the Navy to avert illegal fishing.
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