• Another round of discussions with India later this month
• 24 Indian vessels taken into custody since Jan.

The Government is yet to consider compensating northern fishermen for fishing gear and equipment allegedly damaged by Indian bottom trawlers operating in Sri Lankan waters, despite requests by fishing communities and recorded losses. 

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director General Susantha Kahawatta told The Sunday Morning that the Government had not yet considered compensation for losses worth millions suffered by northern fishermen as a result of Indian bottom trawling. 

This, despite requests made by some fishing communities in relation to the damage done to their livelihoods.

Kahawatta added that Sri Lanka was preparing for another round of discussions with India on the long-running fisheries dispute, with the next round of official-level talks expected to be held in India towards the end of this month. 

“Since the discussions were held in Sri Lanka last time, they are set to be held in India this time. We have scheduled them for the end of this month,” he noted.

The talks are expected to focus on the long-standing issue of Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters and engaging in bottom trawling, which has been a major concern among northern fishing communities.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy confirmed that 19 Indian trawlers and five dhows had been taken into Sri Lankan custody from January to date. The Spokesperson said that the vessels had been taken into custody while illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters, adding that most of the vessels were from South India. 

Environmentalists have warned that continued bottom trawling could have serious long-term consequences for Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of local fishermen. 

Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) Chairman Hemantha Withanage said that bottom trawling caused extensive damage to coral ecosystems and fish-breeding grounds, describing the practice as a “complete devastation of biodiversity”.

“Trawlers destroy everything. Thousands of large trawlers come and destroy coral reefs and fish-breeding grounds. They drag nets with heavy iron balls along the ocean bed to catch fish,” he said. 

Withanage warned that environmental destruction would directly impact future fish availability and, consequently, the livelihoods of fishermen in the Northern Province.

“This will have a long-term effect because areas of Jaffna and Mannar contribute more than 30% of Sri Lanka’s fish sources. When corals and other marine ecosystems are destroyed due to bottom trawling, we are destroying food. In terms of long-term effects, fish stocks could decline over the next couple of years. We are already seeing short-term effects,” he noted.