When Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, voicing concern about Sri Lanka’s recent decision to impose steep fines on any foreign vessel found fishing in the island’s territorial waters, he was simply following his late leader Jayalalithaa’s footsteps.
In 2015, she wrote at least 21 letters to the Prime MInister, asking New Delhi to put pressure on Sri Lanka to stop arresting Tamil Nadu fishermen. In 2016, until October, she wrote 22 similar letters, according to officials. Whether it was O. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister, or V.K. Sasikala as the interim general secretary of the ruling AIADMK after Jayalalithaa’s passing, the top leadership has been consistent in this matter. However, Sri Lanka appears to be firm in its position. Amending its exiting Fisheries Act, Colombo has decided to impose anything between LKR 6 million (approximately ₹25 lakh) and LKR 175 million, as fine on foreign vessels fishing in its seas.
‘Fishermen follow fish and fish know no boundaries’ is a common refrain in Tamil Nadu, when it comes to taking a position on the highly-contested Palk Bay fishing conflict. But for all practical purposes, the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) demarcates territory clearly, and most vessels used by Tamil Nadu fishermen — often bottom-trawlers known for their destructive technique that virtually scrapes the sea bed — have GPS systems installed, enabling fishermen to follow their course easily. The issue continues to be a talking point in high-level bilateral meetings, in addition to figuring extensively in the discussions of the Joint Working Group set up by the neighbouring countries to resolve the problem that has been dragging on for a decade.
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Proactive measures
Following years of bilateral deliberation and the consistent resistance put up by Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen, the two governments came up with some proactive measures. On Tamil Nadu’s part, with assistance from the Centre, efforts are on to convert bottom-trawlers into boats suitable for deep-sea fishing. The State hopes to get 500 deep-sea vessels ready for use this year, according to sources in the Tamil Nadu government.
This, along with Sri Lanka’s ban on bottom-trawling in July 2017, has had some welcome impact. Both the Sri Lankan Navy and the northern fishermen based in Jaffna and Mannar have observed that fewer Indian trawlers are spotted in their waters. However, that their Tamil Nadu counterparts are yet to completely stop trespassing is worrying the northern fishermen.
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According to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Colombo, as many 49 Indian fishermen have been arrested from the beginning of this year, and 10 of their boats confiscated. Though some are sceptical about using strong legislation while responding to what is fundamentally a livelihood issue, others feel that is the only option in the absence of other safeguards for fishermen in the war-affected regions in the north. It is in this context that the northern fishermen welcome the higher fines.
Experts have put forth a range of other suggestions, including setting up an autonomous international authority to manage the Palk Bay and its depleting marine resources — initiatives that will warrant much thought, time and effort from both ends. As for northern fishermen, they only wish that Tamil Nadu will take a more honest and comprehensive look at the problem, while making a case for the livelihoods of the fisher-folk in the State.
Meera Srinivasan works for The Hindu and is based Colombo