Thirteen Sri Lankan fishermen have been apprehended and their two boats impounded by Indian Coast Guard for illegally fishing in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone off Nagayalanka in south Indian state Andhra Pradesh.
The two boats were spotted yesterday by a coast guard Dornier aircraft and its ship ICGS Sagar during a routine patrol along the east coast, an official release said today.
The apprehension of the boats close to the coast "is a matter of concern from security point of view", it said.
The boats were equipped with latest navigational and communication equipment which were capable of long distance sailing and worldwide communication.
About 1,600 kgs of tuna fish, found onboard these boats, were seized for violation of Sections 3, 10, 7 and 14 of the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act of 1981, the release said.
The fishermen and the vessels were being brought here to the nearest designated port by ICGS Sagar for handing them over to police.
It is the second such incident after the Coast Guard apprehended 14 Sri Lankan fishermen along with three boats north of Tamil Nadu coast on May 5, the release added.