The Sri Lanka Navy arrested six individuals for illegal sea cucumber harvesting during a search operation at Nagar Kovil beach in Jaffna on April 10.
The Naval Deployment Veththalakerni, operating under the Northern Naval Command, intercepted two suspicious dinghies approaching shore. Upon inspection, personnel discovered 939 sea cucumbers harvested through prohibited night diving methods.
The Navy seized the two dinghies and a set of diving gear used in the operation. The suspects, aged between 23 and 37, were identified as residents of Mannar and Velvetiturai.
All six individuals, along with the seized catch, boats, and equipment, were handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Inspector for further legal proceedings.
Sea cucumber harvesting through night diving is banned in Sri Lanka due to conservation concerns. The species plays a critical ecological role in maintaining ocean floor health, and overharvesting has threatened populations across the Indian Ocean. The Navy regularly conducts maritime patrols in the northern waters to enforce fisheries regulations, alongside operations targeting illegal trawling by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
