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Lankan-Indian Navies to discuss trespassing today

28 Sep 2021

BY Dinitha Rathnayake   A high-level meeting between the regional Naval Commanders of Sri Lanka and India is to be held today (29) focusing on trespassing Indian fishermen engaging in the destructive practice of bottom trawling and on joint efforts undertaken by the two Navies. Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Spokesman Capt. Indika De Silva, speaking to The Morning, said that these discussions would specially focus on several issues including ongoing illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and joint efforts by the two countries. The Sri Lankan delegation will be led by Northern Naval Commander Priyantha Perera while the Indian Navy delegation will be led by a Naval Commander in Chennai. The talks were to be held onboard a naval vessel near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) but it will be held as a virtual meeting. The SLN has arrested at least 54 Indian fishermen and seized five trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters recently. Having considered the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters on the local fishing community and the sustainability of the fisheries resources of Sri Lanka, the Navy is conducting regular patrols to curb illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters. During similar patrols, naval units attached to the Northern Naval Command nabbed a large Indian fishing vessel with 14 personnel onboard, about three nautical miles off the coast of Kovilan, Jaffna. The seized vessel had a steel hull which was 75 feet long and 22 feet wide and possessed an engine of approximately 280 horsepower, capable of harvesting a huge fish stock with its motorized trawls. Meanwhile, 1,030 kilogrammes of illegally caught fish and fishing gear used for the illegal act were also held by the Navy. Further, the North Central Naval Command took hold of two more Indian fishing vessels with 20 personnel for engaging in trawling in Sri Lankan territorial waters about seven nautical miles off Pesalai, Mannar, and five nautical miles off the Iranaitivu Island. Along with the accused, their fishing gear was also taken into naval custody. In the same vein, the Eastern Naval Command seized two Indian fishing vessels with 20 personnel and their fishing accessories whilst trawling in the island’s waters about 7.5 and 8.5 nautical miles off Mullaitivu, respectively. The two vessels had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters about 62 nautical miles, crossing the IMBL when the apprehension was made. Thus, the illegal entry of foreign fishermen into Sri Lankan waters and the use of prohibited fishing methods like bottom trawling to catch even very small fish has seriously threatened the marine ecosystem and endangered the livelihood of fishermen in the northern part of the island. Accordingly, the Navy has previously informed the Indian authorities when similar incidents of trawling by Indian fishermen were reported, realising the damage it causes to the fisheries and marine environment of Sri Lanka.  All these patrols were carried out adhering to the safety and health guidelines in place for the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 and the five Indian fishing vessels along with 54 personnel will be handed over to the relevant authorities for onward legal action.  Further, the SLN will continue to carry out regular patrols in Sri Lankan territorial waters to prevent illegal fishing practices and other illegal acts, with a view to protect the fisheries resources claimed by Sri Lanka.  Bottom trawling carried out by Indian fishermen in mechanised trawlers is classified as an Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) method by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Over the years, northern fishermen repeatedly demanded that the authorities take stern action against Indian trawlers engaged in trawling activities in Sri Lankan waters at the expense of their livelihood in addition to destroying their fishing equipment.


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