In the early hours of 25 June, the Sri Lanka Navy conducted a high-stakes operation off Kankesanthurai in the Jaffna District, resulting in the tragic death of a senior sailor from the Navy Special Boat Squadron.
The incident occurred during the seizure of an Indian fishing trawler found poaching in Sri Lankan waters, a recurring issue that has strained relations between the two nations for decades. According to the Navy, the aggressive manoeuvres of the Indian trawler during the operation led to the sailor’s critical injuries, culminating in his unfortunate demise at the Teaching Hospital in Jaffna.
The issue of poaching by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, primarily in the Palk Strait, has been a persistent problem for over many decades. This narrow strip of sea, rich in marine resources, has been a source of livelihood for fishermen from both countries. However, the depletion of fish stocks on the Indian side due to overfishing has driven many Indian fishermen to venture into Sri Lankan waters, often resulting in confrontations with the Sri Lanka Navy.
Persistent stalemate
Both Sri Lanka and India recognise the need for a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the poaching crisis. Yet, despite numerous high-level talks and agreements, a lasting solution has remained elusive.
The tragic incident off Kankesanthurai serves as an illustration of the persistent failure of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to effectively address the plight of fishing communities, particularly those in Sri Lanka who have endured the impact of a 30-year civil war.
President Wickremesinghe’s foreign policy approach, aimed at balancing national security and economic well-being, has so far failed to protect Sri Lanka’s coastal communities from the crisis of persistent poaching by Indian fishermen.
In March, President Wickremesinghe instructed authorities to urgently find a definitive solution to the recurring issue of Indian fishermen encroaching into Sri Lankan waters. Acknowledging the embarrassment caused to both governments, he highlighted the Indian Government’s expressed willingness to collaborate on a permanent resolution.
To address this, Wickremesinghe appointed his Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka to lead a Sri Lankan delegation in discussions with Indian counterparts. However, despite Ratnayaka’s visit to India in March, tangible progress on the poaching issue remains elusive.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi’s Government has faced criticism for insufficiently addressing the grievances of Tamil Nadu’s fishing community, adversely affected by restrictions aimed at curbing poaching. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has recently urged Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to secure the immediate release of Tamil fishermen apprehended by Sri Lanka.
Stalin emphasised the financial strain caused by the ‘nationalisation’ of seized boats without adequate compensation or alternative arrangements, stressing the need for diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Tamil fishermen.
Fisheries under siege
For northern fishermen, each day begins with a daunting challenge: the relentless incursion of Indian trawlers into their fishing grounds.
Their voices resonate with frustration and concern as they witness the gradual depletion of fish stocks and the irreversible damage inflicted on their marine environment. The practice of bottom trawling, employed by Indian poachers, not only threatens their livelihoods but also undermines the sustainability of their traditional fishing practices.
Sivakumar Rajakrishna, a fisherman from Mannar said: “Every day, we see these Indian trawlers crossing into our waters, sweeping the seabed clean of fish.” Rajakrishna, like many others in his community, has watched helplessly as the fish stocks in the region have dwindled over the years. “We used to have a rich harvest. Now, it’s getting harder and harder to catch enough to support our families,” he explained.
The encroaching trawlers from across the Palk Strait have become a daily torment, leaving the fishermen of Mannar feeling increasingly desperate.
“The damage they cause to the seabed is irreparable. They are not just taking our fish; they are destroying our future,” Rajakrishna said. The practice of bottom trawling by Indian poachers has led to severe environmental degradation, making it nearly impossible for local fishermen to sustain their traditional way of life.
Rajakrishna also questioned the effectiveness of Governmental interventions. “What has been done to stop this? We’ve heard promises, but we need action. Our livelihoods are at stake,” he asserted. The lack of tangible results from bilateral talks and agreements has left him and his fellow fishermen feeling abandoned and overlooked.
“The Navy needs to do more. They need to protect our waters and our resources. We can’t survive like this,” he urges. His call to arrest poaching boats highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate, decisive action.
A similar sentiment was shared by Kayts Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Vice President Annalingam Annarasa. “Hundreds of Indian boats are entering Sri Lankan waters daily, scratching the sea bed, and poaching into our water to steal our fish harvest,” he lamented.
“This issue has persisted for more than a decade, but none of the governments have been able to solve it. This is the real struggle faced by northern fishermen daily and the entire economy of fishermen in the north has now been ruined,” he said, highlighting the dire situation.
The constant intrusion of Indian boats has left deep scars on the region’s marine environment. “They are bottom trawling, damaging our entire seabed. They are ruining our fisheries resources,” Annarasa explained.
The practice of bottom trawling not only depletes fish stocks but also destroys the seabed, leaving a once-thriving ecosystem in tatters. Annarasa questioned the effectiveness of Government measures and the lack of decisive action.
“The Navy doesn’t take action. They are just looking at the issue. They can clearly see how many boats are coming and crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and the damage they cause to our seabed,” he said.
His plea was for the Sri Lanka Navy to arrest at least one boat per day until a bilateral resolution was reached. Despite numerous discussions between the fishermen of both countries, Annarasa insisted that the decisions taken had not been implemented.
Enforcement dilemma
As both fishermen from the north pointed their fingers at the Sri Lanka Navy, claiming it failed to apprehend more fishing boats and take stern legal action, The Sunday Morning spoke to Sri Lanka Navy Spokesman Captain Indika De Silva.
“The Sri Lanka Navy is currently doing its maximum to control the Indian poachers. We lost one of our officers during the most recent incident. The Indian boats are not coming individually but as a large fleet. It is not easy to catch all of their boats.
“At the same time, the Navy cannot use weapons against fishermen as they are unarmed. Controlling Indian poachers is not the only task the Sri Lanka Navy is handling at present; it also has to control drug trafficking and other security-related issues. The solution needs Governmental intervention and the Navy alone cannot solve the issue,” Captain De Silva said.
When asked whether the Navy was discussing these matters with India, he noted that the poaching issue was one of the main topics considered during joint discussions between the two countries.
The issue revolves around Indian bottom trawlers encroaching into Sri Lankan waters, violating maritime boundaries and depleting fish stocks. Despite legal measures and occasional arrests, the problem has persisted since 2009.
Sri Lanka’s coastline spans 1,340 km with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 223,000 square kilometres, crucial for its fishing industry. Traditional Sri Lankan fishermen use basic gear but face competition from over 5,000 mechanised trawlers from South India. Sri Lanka has laws prohibiting bottom trawling and imposes penalties, yet the conflict continues, impacting marine habitats and escalating diplomatic tensions.
In response to the ongoing poaching issue, The Sunday Morning reached out to Ministry of Fisheries Secretary M.P.N.M. Wickramasinghe, who highlighted recent developments.
According to Wickramasinghe, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda has recently brought the matter to the attention of the President during a meeting. State-level discussions are now actively underway to address this long-standing issue comprehensively.
Wickramasinghe emphasised that finding a permanent solution to the poaching problem was a priority at present.