According to an official statement released here on Thursday, the Sri Lankan Navy has detained at least 54 Indian fishermen and captured five trawlers for reportedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters.
The fishermen were apprehended by the Navy off the coasts of northern and northeastern areas on Wednesday.
“The Navy is conducting routine patrols to curb illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters, having noted the effect of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community and the survival of Sri Lankan fishery facilities,” the Navy said in a statement.
A large Indian fishing vessel with 14 crew members was apprehended by the Navy about 3 nautical miles off the coast of Kovilan in Jaffna.
Two more Indian fishing vessels with 20 crew members were apprehended about 7 nautical miles off Pesalai, Mannar, and 5 nautical miles off Iranativu Island for trawling, according to the statement.
Two more Indian fishing boats with a total of 20 people on board were apprehended about 7.5 and 8.5 nautical miles off the coast of Mullaitivu. The two vessels had crossed the International Boundary Line (IMBL) and trespassed into Sri Lankan waters about 62 nautical miles when the apprehension was made, according to the Navy.
When similar incidents of trawling by Indian fishermen were reported, the Navy said it informed the Indian authorities.
“The illegal entry of foreign fishermen into Sri Lankan waters, as well as the use of prohibited fishing methods such as bottom trawling to grab even small fish, has seriously threatened the marine ecosystem and put the livelihood of fishermen in the northern part of the island in jeopardy.”
Fishermen from both countries are frequently detained after inadvertently trespassing into the waters of the other. The issue of fishermen has become a major source of friction in bilateral relations.
“We are looking forward to our fishermen returning from Sri Lanka as soon as possible,” Jaishankar had stated.
After four people were killed when an Indian trawler capsized after colliding with a Sri Lankan Navy vessel, the Sri Lankan government appointed a three-member committee to make recommendations on how to stop poaching by Indian fishermen in the country’s waters.
The Sri Lankan Navy announced on January 18 that it had seized Indian fishing trawlers that were allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters and trespassing the IMBL. According to the Navy, one of the Indian fishing trawlers attempted to elude the scene by performing aggressive manoeuvres, colliding with the Naval craft in operation and sinking at sea after losing its stability.
In addition, India has lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over the deaths of four fishermen in a collision between their vessel and a Sri Lankan naval craft.
