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Stop bottom trawling in our waters, say Lankan fishermen in petition to India
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Sri Lankan Fisher folk marching to the Indian Consulate in Jaffna to hand over a petition demanding that India take steps to prevent its fishermen from using illegal fishig methods in Sri Lankan waters
While Tamil Nadu fishermen last Monday tried to besiege the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission office in Chennai over the long-standing fishing dispute, local fishermen in Jaffna staged a counter protest in front of the Deputy Indian High Commission in Jaffna demanding a stop to poaching by Indian fishermen in Lankan waters.
Northern fishermen from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Mullaitivu and their families marched from the Jaffna District Secretariat to the High Commission office and handed over a memorandum to A.Natarajan, Consul General of India.
Joseph Francis, President of Poonagary Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Union told the Sunday Times that once again they have reiterated their long standing request to the Indian government – “Stop bottom trawling in our waters.”
After accepting the memorandum from the fishermen, Mr. Natarajan assured them that trespassing by Indian fishermen was gradually declining and the problem would be solved soon when the Indian government initiated its task of introducing them to multi day fishing as a alternative option instead of coming to the Palk Strait.
Meanwhile Tamil Nadu mechanised trawlers associations staged a protest in Chennai demanding the release of 76 seized boats, 21 arrested fishermen and payment of compensation for the released boats that sank recently.
On the same day country boat fishermen from Tamil Nadu, started a fast in Pudukottai district demanding action against mechanised vessels by their brethren fishermen.
One of their demands to the Fisheries authorities in the state was not to allow mechanised boats with more than 120 Horse Power (HP) engines in the Palk Strait. At least 6000 country boats are engaged in traditional fishing methods.
Days after the protest, India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed the Rajya Sabha that a high level meeting of ministers dealing with fisheries of both countries is being convened in May to come up with a mechanism to resolve the fishing dispute across the Palk Strait. (SR)