COLOMBO, Oct 14 (NNN-SLNEWS) – The Sri Lankan government will launch immediate investigations, into allegations of illegal shark fishing in Trincomalee, eastern Sri Lanka.
A local organisation, the Pearl Protectors, said in a statement, while Trincomalee was once a marine biodiversity hotspot, it had now come under threat, as fishermen were increasingly killing local shark species.
Tourism officials said, Nilaveli and Pigeon Island in Trincomalee were some of the only places where tourists could swim with sharks and enjoy a boat ride to see the marine species.
State Minister of Fisheries, Kanchana Wijesekera, said yesterday, following these allegations of illegal shark fishing, officers of the fisheries department will visit Trincomalee and investigate the claims.
“Once the initial investigations are concluded legal action will be taken against those responsible,” Wijesekera said.
Located on the north-east coast of Sri Lanka, around 237 km from Colombo, Trincomalee is popular for wildlife lovers, as it is one of the best natural harbours in the region.
It is one of the country’s best hotspots to see blue whales in their natural environment, and a smaller number of sperm whales and whale sharks can also be spotted during some months.– NNN-SLNEWS
