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Heavy fines coming for Indian poachers: Amendments soon
Amendments to the Fisheries Act will be introduced soon to impose severe penalties of up to Rs 150 million on foreign fishing vessels poaching in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters, Fisheries Director General M. C. L. Fernando said yesterday. He said existing laws against poaching were not strong enough.
Last week, Cabinet approved a proposal to impose heavy fines on local fishermen, who violate the national jurisdiction of another country and engage in fishing on the high seas without a valid licence. The proposal seeks to increase fines from Rs. one million to Rs 150 million depending on the capacity of the boat.
A separate committee had been appointed to draft a new bill to impose similar penalties on foreign vessels poaching in Sri Lanka’s waters, he said. Meanwhile, the Government has appointed an advisory board to formulate recommendations to solve the crisis of illegal poaching by Indian fishermen before the Government initiates fresh talks with India.
The board will consist of representatives from the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Fisheries Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Defence Ministry and the Attorney General’s Department. This decision was taken at a top level meeting held on Thursday under the leadership of Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. Northern fishermen’s association leaders, senior officials of the Navy, the Coast Guard and non-governmental organisations took part. Minister Amaraweera hopes to visit Tamil Nadu soon for talks with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram.
Tamil Nadu fishermen started an indefinite strike in Rameshwaram yesterday demanding the release of 87 Indian fishermen who are in Sri Lanka’s custody and their 39 boats.