Fishermen from Rameswaram ended yet another fishing season on a sore note as Sri Lankan navy had arrested 147 fishermen on a charge of poaching and confiscated 33 boats, including three vallams (country boats), during the 10-month-long season. Now, the 45-day ban on fishing to enable fish breeding comes into effect.
The new season began with a shock for the 4,000 odd Rameswaram fishermen as Lankan navy arrested 14 fishermen and confiscated their three trawlers on the second day of the season on June 2, 2015.
As Sri Lankan authorities impounded the trawlers, each worth about Rs. 25 to Rs. 30 lakh, the fishermen adopted a cautious approach. Since they confined themselves mostly to the Indian waters, there were no arrests in the next four months.
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When they just crossed International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) for better catch, the Lankan navy arrested 24 fishermen and confiscated their four trawlers on October 13, and another 21 fishermen on five trawlers on October 27.
Since then, the Lankan navy arrested the fishermen at regular intervals till April 5.
The arrests went unabated since October and in November alone the Lankan navy arrested 27 fishermen and confiscated five trawlers. It arrested four fishermen and confiscated a boat on December 22. From this January, the Lankan navy arrested 57 fishermen in five different incidents, followed by the arrest of four fishermen with their trawler on April 5.
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P. Sesu Raja, a fishermen leader, said that the only solace was that the Lankan government released all but four fishermen, arrested on April 5, but there was no sign of releasing their boats.
U. Arulanandham, president of Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), said that the Lankan navy arrested 413 fishermen from the coastal districts in 51 incidents during this season. Barring 13 fishermen – nine from Pudukottai and four from Rameswaram – all were released, he said.
A trouble-free fishing in the new season after the ban period could be possible only if the State and Central governments secured their traditional fishing right in the Palk Bay. The fishermen would observe fast on April 19, demanding the release of the boats, he said.