RAMANATHAPURAM: With only a week after the lifting of the annual fishing ban, the Sri Lankan Navy seized three Indian boats, carrying 22 fishermen hailing from Ramanathapuram, for alleged violation of IMBL near Delft island in the wee hours of Sunday. According to sources, over 500 boats from Rameswaram had ventured into the sea on Saturday night and in the wee hours of Sunday.
Official sources from the SL Navy said the Northern Naval Command had deployed Fast Attack Craft (FAC) to chase away a cluster of Indian boats spotted in the Lankan waters. The seized boats, along with the fishers, were brought to Kankesanthurai Harbour, and will be handed over to Mailadi fisheries inspector for further legal proceedings.
All the apprehended fishermen have been remanded under under judicial custody for two weeks, sources added. It may be noted with the latest addition, the SL Navy has seized a total of 27 Indian boats and arrested 204 Indian fishers in 2024, so far.
Meanwhile, fishermen's associations from Rameswaram are planning to stage a protest on Monday condemning the arrest. Fishing in intra-country waters remains an unresolved issue and the union government must take steps to ensure the release of the fishers and retrieve their boats, they said.
On the flip side, Sri Lanka has reportedly been witnessing a series of protests by the nation's fishermen associations, pressing the SL Navy to prevent Indian fishers from the entering their waters, alleging that the trawling methods used by Indian boats affected their catch.
Responding to the issue, Jesuraj, leader of the All Mechanised Boats Fishermen Association said, "The centre should hold a delegation meeting, comprising fisher representatives of both countries, to discuss the issue and ensure safer conditions for both countries' fishermen."
One boat capsized near IMBL
A boat carrying four fishermen from Rameswaram, which ventured into the sea on Saturday, capsized due to malfunctioning while nearing the IMBL on Sunday. All the crew members were rescued, using other boats fishing nearby, and brought to the shore, sources said.