Twelve Tamil Nadu fishermen along with their two mechanized boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters, earlier this morning.
Assitant Director of Fisheries department, Manikandan said nearly 3,000 fishermen from Ramanathapuram had ventured into the sea last night and were fishing near Karainagar in the Sri Lankan waters early this morning, at the time of the arrest.
While those in other boats managed to escape, 12 fishermen were arrested and taken to Kangesanthurai port along with their boats, the official said.
The fishermen were charged with poaching fish in their territorial waters using the banned fishing net, he added.
This arrest is the first case reported after the fishing ban period ended on June 14.