'No room for illegal fishing vessels, equipment'

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The trolling system is an illegal technique which is being used in the fisheries industry and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has taken measures to ban all illegal vessels,equipment and techniques, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne told the Daily News yesterday.

"I have discussed this problem with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he has also agreed to ban illegal vessels, equipment and all other illegal activity in the fisheries industry," the minister said. Trolling is a method which harms the coral reefs and small fish species. When fishermen follow this system it will be a threat to marine life. Because of that trolling system had been banned in Sri Lanka, he further said.