With President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India this week, speculation is rife that the arrest of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters could figure prominently during discussions between the Sri Lankan President and senior members of the Indian Government.
However, speaking to The Sunday Morning, Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage said that the release of the Indian fishermen would not be a point of discussion but rather a potential solution to the ongoing dispute over Indian fishermen encroaching on Sri Lankan waters.
“For a long time, Indian fishermen have caused issues in our waters. Bottom trawling, in particular, is harmful not only to Sri Lanka but also affects India. We have communicated this to Indian authorities, including the Indian High Commissioner,” he said.
Gamage highlighted Sri Lanka’s efforts to address the issue through diplomatic channels. “The Fisheries Minister and I have engaged in discussions with India and this matter will be taken up during the President’s visit to India as well. However, our priority is enforcing the law. First-time offenders may receive a warning, but repeated violations will result in full legal action,” he said.
The Deputy Minister clarified that while the release of detained fishermen was conducted in accordance with legal procedures, it would not be the primary focus of the discussions that would take place during the President’s visit to India.
“Releasing fishermen is not the point of discussion. The emphasis is on resolving this issue sustainably,” he stated, adding: “We are not prepared to risk the friendly ties between our nations. Both nations have a legitimate aim towards a peaceful solution to the problem and that will be our sole focus during our negotiations with India.”
Gamage also pointed out that Sri Lanka had been implementing a 2017 legal amendment to address the challenges of bottom trawling effectively.
Meanwhile, India has called on Sri Lanka to expedite the release of its detained fishermen, advocating a compassionate and cooperative approach to resolving the long-standing dispute over fishing rights.
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has reported the arrest of 537 Indian fishermen this year for allegedly operating in Sri Lankan waters, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the Palk Strait, a narrow waterway separating Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, fishermen associations in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu announced a token two-day strike on 7 and 8 December, urging the Indian Government to immediately secure the release of the 14 fishermen arrested by the SLN on charges of poaching.
India advocates humanitarian approach
Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha recently met with Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar and Deputy Minister Gamage to address the issue and discuss development projects in the fisheries sector. During the discussions, Jha emphasised the importance of a humanitarian perspective on the fishermen’s plight and urged Sri Lanka to release those in custody promptly.
Jha had also met President Dissanayake last month to discuss the issue. Both parties reaffirmed the importance of finding a sustainable solution to the persistent fishing disputes between the two nations. The ongoing issue has often strained bilateral relations, with the SLN allegedly seizing boats and firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait.
Highlighting India’s commitment to supporting the Northern Province, the High Commissioner also reviewed development initiatives aimed at enhancing the region’s fisheries sector. His remarks came ahead of President Dissanayake’s upcoming visit to India, where bilateral discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are expected to include the fishermen issue.
Navy’s perspective on enforcement
Speaking on the arrests, Navy Spokesperson Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya provided insights into the challenges faced by Sri Lanka in safeguarding its waters. According to Capt. Wickramasuriya, the Navy initially attempts to deter Indian fishermen from entering Sri Lankan waters before resorting to arrests.
“We ensure no weapons are used and we respectfully ask them to leave Sri Lankan waters. If they do not conform, we then proceed to detain them. Those detained are treated respectfully and are handed over to the nearest Police station for further processing,” he explained.
The Navy’s primary concern, Capt. Wickramasuriya noted, is the protection of local fishermen in the Northern Province. “Indian fishermen often employ the bottom trawling method, which is destructive to marine ecosystems and damages the fishing equipment of northern fishermen,” he said.
The Indian vessels, often steel-hulled and technologically advanced, pose additional risks during confrontations, with one incident leading to the death of a Sri Lankan sailor earlier this year.
Bottom trawling is a fishing method that involves dragging weighted nets along the seabed and poses severe ecological and socioeconomic risks. This practice not only devastates marine habitats by destroying coral reefs, seagrass beds, and other critical ecosystems, but also leads to the indiscriminate capture of non-target species, including juveniles of commercially valuable fish.
Over time, this practice significantly depletes fish stocks and damages fishing equipment used by local fishermen, threatening the livelihoods of such fishermen who rely on sustainable fishing methods. The environmental impact extends to long-term damage to the seabed, which can take decades to recover, if at all.
For Sri Lanka, a nation heavily reliant on its marine resources, the proliferation of bottom trawling undermines food security, economic stability, and the health of its marine biodiversity, making its prohibition a critical step towards sustainable fisheries management.
Capt. Wickramasuriya pointed out that the practice of bottom trawling had already contributed to a decline in fishing resources in South India, leading its fishermen to undertake their fishing operations in Sri Lankan waters.
The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act No.11 of 2017 represents a pivotal step in Sri Lanka’s efforts to safeguard its marine ecosystems and support sustainable fishing practices. This amendment prohibits the use of bottom trawling nets.
The act introduces a new section (28A) and revises Sections 49 (offences) and 66 (definitions) of the principal legislation. It explicitly bans engaging in, facilitating, or causing others to engage in fishing operations using bottom trawling nets, whether with or without wings or supported by vertical poles, and towed by motorised or mechanised boats.
The act also forbids the possession, import, transport, purchase, or sale of such nets for fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Importantly, no licences for bottom trawling are issued and existing licenses are not subject to renewal. This legal framework underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to protecting its marine resources and ensuring the livelihoods of its traditional fishing communities.
Rising numbers and technological challenges
In 2023, the SLN detained 240 Indian fishermen and 35 poaching trawlers, but this year the number has more than doubled.
“They often come in large groups of 400-500 trawlers. While Tamil Nadu’s fishing resources are depleting, these groups venture into Sri Lankan waters, which we are obligated to protect,” Capt. Wickramasuriya stated.
He further highlighted the evolving technological capabilities of Indian fishing vessels, which have transitioned from wooden to steel hulls over the last decade. He claimed that to date, the SLN had apprehended 537 Indian fishermen encroaching on Sri Lankan waters and 70 poaching trawlers this year.
When asked whether there had been an increase in Indian fishermen encroaching on Sri Lankan waters, Capt. Wickramasuriya said that concrete numbers could not be determined. He said that the SLN fleet had expanded operations this year to better protect Sri Lankan marine resources, leading to a greater number of arrests.
Despite the tensions, the Navy Spokesperson emphasised the strong ties between the Sri Lankan and Indian navies.
“We maintain close cooperation with India. In one instance, about 10 years ago, we provided intelligence about a Sri Lankan trawler smuggling heroin in international waters, and the Indian Navy successfully intercepted the vessel using aircraft and drones,” he recounted.
A call for sustainable solutions
The fishermen’s dispute remains a recurring strain in India-Sri Lanka relations, with frequent arrests and reports of confrontations in the Palk Strait. Both countries have expressed the need for a long-term resolution to these disputes, as reflected in recent high-level meetings.
Sri Lanka’s emphasis on legal enforcement and India’s call for a humanitarian approach highlight the delicate balance required to resolve this issue. As Deputy Minister Gamage remarked: “We are committed to negotiating a settlement, but we must also enforce our laws to protect our resources and local fishermen.”