Indian fishermen 'ready to reduce bottom trawling'. Lanka fishermen not happy

Fishermen from Tamil Nadu say they are open to reducing their fishing activities using bottom trawling nets in the Palk Strait area. But, Sri Lankan fishermen say it is ‘hoodwinking’.

Their comments come at a time when the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka is in India discussing the fishermen issue with the Indian PM Modi among others.

During the meeting between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka in Delhi, the leaders said the fishermen issue was an important issue.

“We discussed the fishermen issue is to be dealt with in a humanitarian way,” Indian PM told in a joint meeting with the visiting Sri Lankan President.

President Dissanayaka in his post on social media platform X said their discussion included “stopping illegal fishing”. In his speech along with the Indian PM, he expressed his concern over the ecological damage in the Palk Strait due to illegal fishing methods.

While welcoming the recent conclusion of the Sixth Joint Working Group on Fisheries, we also discussed the need for a cooperative approach to address the fisheries issue for a sustainable solution. Recognizing the irreparable ecological damage caused by bottom trawling which is a banned practice in both countries, I requested that measures be taken to stop this practice and curb IUU fishing”.

Reacting to the statements made by the Indian PM and the Sri Lankan President, B. Jesuraja, President of the Rameswaram mechanized Boats Fishermen Association said, they welcome the initiatives of both the leaders expressing concern about the fishermen issues.

“We welcome the Sri Lankan President to India and his openness to talk about finding a solution to the problems faced by the fishermen. We understand the concerns of the Northern Province fishermen in Sri Lanka about bottom trawling nets. We will reduce it gradually and discuss the process with the fishermen associations in Tamil Nadu”.

However, the Northern Province fishermen are not convinced about the comments from the Indian side. The secretary of the Northern Province Fishermen’s Federation Mohammed Alam questions what it means by ‘humanitarian way’.

“They say the issue is to be dealt with in a humanitarian way. Humanitarian consideration for whom? Do they mean to say the Indian fishermen have to be seen in a humanitarian way or our Northern Province fishermen who have suffered a lot? It is our fishermen who have suffered loss of livelihood on all fronts and natural disasters. The demand from the Indian PM looks like telling Sri Lanka to stop arresting Indian fishermen seizing their boats and releasing those arrested and their boats. The Indian PM is very clearly saying to allow their fishermen to fish in our waters. It’s ridiculous to hear such a stand”

But, Jesuraja says they are fully aware of the problems faced by the fishermen from the Northern Province and sympathize with them.

“We respect and acknowledge the issues faced by the Northern Province fishermen. We will in no way affect their livelihood. We are willing to reduce banned fishing practices, but that needs time and alternate support from Tamil Nadu and India. We appeal to both sides to release their fishermen and their boats. A face-to-face meeting between fishermen from both sides will lead to amicable solutions”.

Mohammed Alam is not satisfied with the suggestion of Jesuraja. He says such a statement is not only unacceptable but also doesn’t give any hope.

“They have said this many times. In 2010 when the NP fishermen went there, they said the same thing. During unofficial talks, they asked us to give them time for a year or two, but nothing happened. In 2016 official talks were held at the foreign ministry level. In those talks, it was decided not to use bottom trawling nets and not to enter into the Sri Lankan territorial waters and TN fishermen venturing into the deep sea. But what happened? Even after 8 years, they are placing the same demand. The TN fishermen don’t have an alternate idea and they won’t change. Seeking time and direct talks is hoodwinking”.

Jesuraja argues the fishermen mutually understand their issues and direct talks would lead to productive results.

“We are open to discuss among our brethren and sure of coming to an understanding. Then that can be taken up at the official level and finalized. We don’t want any politics in this regard”.

Mohammed Alam is not convinced about such a proposal. Without any visible action, such talks would be useless he says.

“A decision was taken in 2016 about such a talk. We are ready to talk, there is no difference of opinion in it. But when they continue to act illegally using banned nets, how can we talk? We are not prepared for it. When we met the Indian Ambassador we suggested the Indian fishermen express signs of goodwill by stopping bottom trawling for at least two months on an experimental basis. Even that was not done. In such a situation, it doesn’t make sense to talk”.