New laws to deal with fishing boats that intrude into SL waters

The Government will introduce new laws to deal with foreign fishing boats that intrude into the country's territorial waters making all related offences cognizable and non bailable and will also simplify the procedure when dealing with offenders.

Foreign vessels seized in Lankan waters or crew members detained will be produced before a Magistrate Court instead of a High Court, as it is done now, to overcome practical difficulties, once the amendments are approved by Parliament. It will also be mandatory to conclude proceedings into related offences within a month.

The relevant amendments will be introduced to the Fisheries (Regulation of Foreign Fishing Boats) Act of 1979 by the Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. The amendments have already been published in the gazette.

The changes to the law will give more powers to the Director General of Coast Conservation with the administration of this Act being transferred to the DG from the Secretary to the Ministry.

In addition to the members of the armed forces who are authorised to co-operate in implementation and enforcement of this Act, the amendments will give powers to the DG of the Coast Guard Department and any other person designated by name or by office by the Minister to implement and enforce its provisions.

The amendments will make it mandatory to keep the consular officer of the country to which a seized fishing boat belongs, of its seizure as well as on action instituted against the offenders, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The grounds on which the boat has been seized or detained will require to be specified in such a notice.

Encroaching into Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) too will be a punishable offence while aiding and abetting any related offence too will be punishable by law.

Fines too will be enhanced on foreign fishing boats that encroach both the country’s territorial waters and the EEZ and will be between Rs 3million to Rs150 million depending on the length of the vessel used measured in meters.

A new section will be introduced to the Act to set up a fund called the Fisheries Reward Fund to be administered by the DG of Coast Conservation and rewards will be paid to authorised officers and to any informer.