Sri Lanka Navy arrests 6 local fishermen illegally harvesting sea cucumber
May 08, Colombo: The Sri Lanka Navy Monday said it has arrested six local fishermen for allegedly engaged in illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers.
Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Area arrested the six persons while harvesting sea cucumbers using illegal fishing methods in the seas off Point Pedro yesterday (7).
Along with the suspects, approximately 280 sea cucumbers, 6 diving masks, 5 pairs of diving fins, 5 regulators, 4 diving torches, 20 oxygen bottles and 2 FGDs were also taken into naval custody.
The arrested persons and the items were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector, Point Pedro for onward legal action.
Sea cucumber fishing is not banned in Sri Lanka but allowed only with a permit to prevent over exploitation of marine species and adversely affecting the marine eco system.
Source – http://www.colombopage.com/archive_17A/May08_1494226096CH.php
World’s biggest star tortoise found in Lunugamvehera?
A star tortoise weighing 13 kilogrammes – believed to be the world’s biggest and heaviest – has been found by wildlife officers from the Lunugamvehera National Park.
This tortoise is believed to be the biggest tortoise found on far in the world. This tortoise which belongs to the Chelonian species has been recognized by the people as striped tortoise, forest tortoise,’ Mevara’ tortoise,’ Huniyan’ tortoise (Black magic tortoise), spring bean tortoise and Batakeya tortoise.
This species has got used and adapted to the dry land properly. The world’s biggest tortoise known so far is said to be weighing between 8 to 9 kgs. Therefore, wildlife officers are of the opinion that this is now the biggest tortoise that has been found in the world.
(Nayanajeewa Bandara)
Source – 09/05/2017, Dailymirror- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/World-s-biggest-star-tortoise-found-in-Lunugamvehera–128586.html#sthash.0rowQtXr.dpuf
