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Lanka to cut nets of Indian poachers: Minister
Orders to cut the nets of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lanka’s waters are to be issued soon in a fresh bid to deal with illegal fishing, Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday. He said the services of the Coast Guard would be sought to put the plan into action to discourage poaching in Sri Lanka’s waters. The tough action is to be initiated after several previous attempts — including the arrest and detention of the boats — failed to control the intrusion of the Indian fishermen.“We have also decided that any of the Indian fishermen’s detained boats will not be released,” Mr. Amaraweera said.
The move came as Sri Lanka raised this large-scale Indian poaching issue with the European Union. “We have already raised the issue with the EU and we hope it will take action,” Mr Amaraweera said. Meanwhile, more talks are planned at ministerial and official level to sort out the issue after the failure of talks between fishermen’s associations of the two countries.
Mr. Amaraweera said an initial proposal for Indian fishermen to engage in 120 days of fishing in Sri Lanka’s waters for three years had been rejected and there was a fresh proposal that it should be cut down to 83 days. “However, we are of the view that this facility too should not be allowed, but a compromise to resolve the issue also is needed,” he said.
Next week, Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha is due to meet Mr. Amaraweera to discuss the release of 71 Indian fishermen who are being detained for poaching. Mr. Amaraweera is also due to visit India for talks with the Indian fisheries minister.