Chennai: More than 300 Sri Lankan
fishermen, who had strayed into Indian waters, were
apprehended along with over 60 boats last year, the Coast Guard
(CG) stated here on Tuesday.
"All-out efforts have been made to curb the menace of
illegal poaching by foreign fishing vessels. During the last
year, 65 Sri Lankan boats with 337 crew have been
apprehended," a CG statement detailing their highlights last
year, released on the occasion of its Raising Day, said.
The Coast Guard had also repatriated 88 boats and 455
crew to Sri Lanka last year, including those apprehended
earlier.
While the interim Coast Guard came into being on
February 1, 1977, the CG in its present shape was formally
inaugurated on August 18, 1978 by way of an Act. The force was
raised following the need to ensure safety of life and
property at sea.
The CG had conducted 36 coastal security exercises and
30 coastal security operations all over India to validate the
Coastal Security Mechanism since January 2009. Besides, the CG
was involved in a number of search and rescue operations and
oil spill control exercises, it said.
PTI
