Four fishermen arrested in lakshadweep for illegal fishing of endangered porcupine rays

Kochi: Four fishermen were arrested by the Lakshadweep Agatti Forest Range, for illegal fishing of protected species on Wednesday. A team of officials under Shanavas BM, forest range in charge of the Agatti range, conducted an inspection on the fishing vessel St. Francis, anchored at Agatti Island.
Sources said the inspection was based on a tip-off from the Flying Squad Division. During the search, the team found that 10 porcupine rays, Urogymnus asperrimus, weighing about 424kg, were kept in the freezer chamber of the boat along with various other collected fishes.
Porcupine rays, are listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which offers the highest level of protection due to their rare and endangered status. Hunting or holding such animals attracts various provisions of the act.
Following this, the Agatti forest team arrested Sunil S, Christadimai Sesadimai, M Robin and Brian Thomas, who were involved in the operations of the boat. The boat was authorised by the department of fisheries as a mother vessel for the collection of fishes from the Lakshadweep islands and to transport them to the mainland.
Despite the conditions stipulated by the department of fisheries not to collect or transport any wildlife scheduled species, they attempted to transport the rare porcupine rays due to their very high market value, sources said.
The operation was conducted by a team of officials, including forest guards Shersha, Abdul Kabeer and Sumayya. The accused were produced before a chief judicial magistrate court, Amini and remanded in judicial custody.