Even as the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen continues for alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters, Colombo is considering various options, including licensed fishing, to break the stalemate over the vexatious issue.
However, talking to The Hindu , Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that nothing had been finalised as of now, and “everything is under consideration.”
Asserting that the Fisheries Ministry has not been kept informed of the Sri Lanka government’s plans, Secretary W.M.M.R. Adikari said mechanised trawling or industrial trawling had been banned temporarily. “Very soon, it will be made permanent,” she added.
Tamil fishermen of the Northern Province have been complaining that fishermen from Tamil Nadu, while engaged in illegal poaching, are using mechanised bottom trawling.
This is causing havoc to the marine eco-system.
Govt. seized of the issue
Even though Indian government authorities know that fishermen from Tamil Nadu do cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), they are also not oblivious to the genuine difficulty of the State’s fishermen, especially in the districts of Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam and Ramanathpuram, consequent to the demarcation of the IMBL.
As per the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1983, mechanised fishing boats could fish only beyond 3 nautical miles from the coast. The area, available for fishing near Danushkodi, amounts to six NM.
No proper fishing grounds are available in the area which also has rocks and coral reef.
It is for these reasons that the Indian government has been insisting that the fishermen problem be viewed from humanitarian and livelihood dimensions and not just in a narrow, legal way.
Noor Mohamed Alam, president of Mannar District Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Union in the Northern Province, said it should also be made clear whether stipulations for licensed fishing would cover the duration of fishing and the number of fishermen to be allowed.
According to Defence Secretary, the govt. is considering various options to break
the stalemate
