News
Sri Lankan fishing boat set on fire in high seas after being seized in Seychelles
View(s):By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
A multi-day fishing trawler was reportedly set on fire in Seychelles, after it was seized for illegally entering its territorial waters.
The multi-day fishing vessel ‘Eshini Duwa’ had set out from the Vellamankara fisheries harbour in Wennappuwa on December 7 and was detained on December 30. The crew was accused of fishing for shark.
The owner of the vessel Susil Fernando said it was seized by the Seychelles Coast Guard and was set on fire at sea along with 10,000 liters of diesel.
The burning vessel
Mr Fernando said the skipper of the vessel spoke to him on December 25 and he had said they were well within limits and were engaged in fishing, but after that he lost contact due a technical issue.
“It was only later that I learned that the trawler and crew had been arrested in the Seychelles for violating maritime boundaries. But the vessel had been completely destroyed after it was set on fire,” he said.
The owner said the action cannot be justified by any means. ” Setting fire to a ship in the middle of the sea and destroying it is a crime. We are not engaged in drug trafficking, if a mistake was committed punishment must be given,” he said.
“We built a new vessel at a cost of Rs. 4-5 million and we also spent more than Rs. 5 million on fuel and other facilities to engage in fishing,” he said adding that he was seeking justice.
“We in no way condone our multi-day trawlers violating territorial waters of other countries. But mistakes can
happen while fishing and there are
penalties for that,” All Ceylon Multi-Day Boat Association secretary Ruwan Fernando, said.
“If our fishermen had committed a crime legal action should be taken against them,” he said.
“Even if the vessel had violated any maritime zone laws the Seychelles Coast Guard cannot set fire to a large vessel carrying 10,000 liters of diesel in the middle of the high seas.
Fisheries Ministry’s Operations Division Assistant Director Uditha Gamhewa said that he was aware that the fishermen were still in Seychelles but was not aware if any other action had been taken regarding them.
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