The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 22 Indian fishermen, accused of engaging in illegal fishing activities within Sri Lankan territorial waters. The arrests took place during a search operation in the North Sea near the Delft Islands on Saturday night. Along with the fishermen, three fishing vessels were seized, as confirmed by Navy Spokesperson Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya here.
The apprehended fishermen are set to be transferred to the Kankesanturai fishing harbor for further legal procedures. This event marks a significant incident in a longstanding dispute between the two countries over fishing rights. Just last week, four other Indian fishermen were arrested for similar violations. They were also seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, indicating a pattern of increased enforcement actions. Details of that incident are available here.
The Tamil Nadu fisheries officials indicated that those arrested hailed from Rameswaram, Mandapam, and Thangachimadam coastal areas within Ramanathapuram district. In protest of these detentions, Tamil Nadu fishermen declared their intent to strike, as further outlined here.
The issue of cross-border fishing in the Palk Strait, a lucrative fishing area, remains a contentious topic, with numerous incidents leading to arrests. Sri Lanka has detained 204 fishermen and seized 27 trawlers in 2024 alone for alleged illegal fishing activities, a significant portion compared to similar incidents last year. Data from 2023 show approximately 240 to 245 fishermen detained, as reported in documents such as this article.
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries has acknowledged the ongoing dispute and has scheduled discussions with Dr. S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, who visited Sri Lanka on June 20, 2024, to address these issues. The Ministry’s statement following the arrests signals a potential for diplomatic engagement aimed at resolving these recurring conflicts. More details about the Ministry’s stance and Dr. Jaishankar’s visit can be perused here.
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