All Indian fishing trawlers confiscated by the Sri Lankan navy since 2015 are to be released, The Hindu reports.
The Tamil Nadu fisheries department received the Sri Lankan government order last week and will be sending a team of fishermen, mechanics and officials to assess the condition of the 173 trawlers which are held in Karai Nagar, Kankesanthurai, Trincomalee, Kalpatti and Mannar.
However the order states that trawling equipment in the boats would not be released.
Sources from the fishing industry believe that only up to half of the boats would be salvageable after years of neglect.