On 21 December 2022, BIOT authorities boarded and inspected the vessel IMUL-A-0235-KLT (SAMPATH) within the BIOT EEZ. The vessel was not on the IOTC Record of Authorised Vessels at the time of inspection. The vessels captain admitted to fishing in the area and had a longline deployed at the time of inspection. BIOT authorities inspected fresh fish on board including IOTC managed species such as Mobulids and Tuna. The vessel did not have a VMS present on board although departure papers state that it was present. This vessel was included on the IOTC IUU vessel list on 23 May 2024 whilst flagged to Sri Lanka and under the ownership of M.S.S.F. JAYASOORIYA. This vessel is listed by IOTC under the vessel name IMUL-A-0235-KLT but this is the vessels national registration number. The vessels name at the time of IUU listing and BIOT enforcement was SAMPATH.
