Naval personnel on Tuesday detained five fishermen and seized two boats along with 1600 kg of sea cucumber, an endangered marine species, in Rameswaram.
Sources said sea cucumber poaching came to light when personnel of Naval Detachment of Rameswaram carried out random check on mechanised boats, which were seen near the Kothandaramar temple shore. While six fishermen of a boat, which had 900 kg of sea cucumber, escaped after abandoning the boat, five fishermen of another boat were secured with 600 kg of sea cucumbers, which were alive when they were brought to the shore.
On information, Coastal Security Group policemen, forest officials and other security agencies reached the spot and conducted an enquiry with Nagaraj (40), Pandi (40), Muthu (50), Rajendran (40) and Ramakrishnan, the arrested fishermen.
Later, they were produced before the Judicial Magistrate court in Rameswaram, which ordered 15 days judicial custody.
On the direction of the court, sea cumbers were destroyed.
