Fishermen in the North raised concerns over the gradual destruction of seabeds in the Northern waters, claiming that corals, seagrass, and other marine vegetation are being damaged due to irresponsible fishing practices with high technology by Indian fishermen. 

They claimed that Indian fishing grounds had reportedly become depleted already, with the destruction of marine resources being one of the reasons for Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters. The Northern fishermen warned that unless immediate intervention is done, seabeds in Sri Lankan waters could also be destroyed, threatening the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen who depend on these resources.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, a fisherman in the North, Raj Sutha said that the destruction was clearly visible to those who had observed the seabeds through diving activities over the years. "As those who have seen the seabeds earlier and the current seabeds through diving, the destruction happening is clearly visible. Indian fishermen have advanced technology and care less about the seabeds. Corals, seagrass, and other marine plants are largely damaged. We even have videos of them. What we lack is Government intervention," he said. According to him, fish resources were once abundant in Indian waters bordering the Northern part of Sri Lanka due to their rich seabeds. However, he claimed that these resources had now been depleted, warning that the continued destruction of marine resources in Sri Lankan waters would further affect small-scale fishermen.

Northern fishermen have repeatedly complained about Indian fishermen trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. These concerns emerge at a time when Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar has said that a group of officials would travel to Tamil Nadu to discuss the issues faced by fishermen.

Meanwhile, the fishermen also called for a research study to assess the damage to the seabeds and propose possible solutions.

However, when contacted, an official of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency said that no recent research was being conducted on the Northern seabeds and that the Agency would provide updates on any future measures, if undertaken.