Indian Government must immediately resolve the Fishermen’s Crisis

The recent firing of the Sri Lankan navy on an Indian fishing boat has come as a stark reminder that the problem faced by the fishermen in Tamilnadu needs urgent attention. The recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka in the Palk Strait impacting the lives of thousands of fishing families in Tamil Nadu have become a persistent flashpoint in bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. While the Indian government has been claiming that it is doing its best to get the fishermen released, the lack of a long-term resolution has perpetuated the cycle of arrests, detentions, and strained relations between neighbouring countries.

indian-fishermen-sustain-injuries-after-sri-lankan-navy-opens-fire
Indian fishermen sustain injuries after Sri Lankan Navy opens fire

The Palk Strait, a narrow water body separating Tamil Nadu from northern Sri Lanka, has been a shared fishing ground for centuries. However, the Indo-Sri Lankan maritime boundary line (IMBL) agreements of 1974 and 1976 drew official lines, transferring the uninhabited island of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. Indian fishermen, who historically relied on the surrounding waters, lost access to this crucial fishing area.

Overfishing in Indian waters, combined with the adoption of harmful practices like bottom trawling, has led to resource depletion. Desperate for a livelihood, Indian fishermen venture into Sri Lankan waters, often inadvertently crossing maritime boundaries. This results in frequent confrontations with the Sri Lankan Navy.

Sri Lanka argues that Indian mechanized trawlers destroy marine biodiversity and threaten the livelihoods of its fishermen, particularly in its Northern provinces. With local Sri Lankan fishermen resuming activities after decades of restricted access during the civil war, competition with better-equipped Indian trawlers has heightened tensions.

For Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities, these arrests mean economic ruin and emotional turmoil. Boats worth lakhs are confiscated or destroyed, and families are left to struggle without a primary breadwinner. The uncertainty of when—or if—fishermen will return only deepens the anguish.

On the other side, Sri Lankan fishermen face dwindling catches and ecological degradation. Many accuse Indian trawlers of depleting resources meant for local communities, exacerbating poverty and forcing younger generations to abandon traditional fishing practices.

The activities of big private fishing companies in the region are largely responsible for the crisis. The mechanization of fishing, in industrial-scale operations, has depleted fish stocks in Indian waters, forcing small-scale fishermen to venture into contested zones for survival. Bottom trawling has further exacerbated resource scarcity and ecological degradation, severely affecting traditional fishing communities. The drive of the big private fishing companies to maximise their profits through exports has played havoc with the livelihoods of small fishermen.

The government of Sri Lanka has taken a firm stance, citing sovereignty and ecological preservation as grounds for its actions. The Indian fishermen who have been arrested and detained by the Sri Lankan authorities have, in many cases, complained of harsh treatment meted out to them in captivity, including physical torture and seizure of their boats and fishing equipment.

The reaction of the Indian state has so far been only to secure the release of detained fishermen whenever such an instance occurs, but failing to address the root causes. The failure of the state in phasing out bottom trawlers and the absence of alternative livelihoods for fishermen reveal the ruling class’s apathetic attitude towards the problems of the fishermen. It reveals that the Indian state defends the interests of the big private fishing monopoly companies, at the cost of the people of the fishing communities.

The impact of this on the fishermens’ lives is staggering. Families are left in limbo, grappling with the psychological trauma of uncertainty while their breadwinners languish in foreign custody. The seized boats are never returned. Yet, the Indian government has taken no initiative to to understand their grievances or work towards a resolution of the problem.

Various organisations and individuals working with the affected fishermen have come forward with proposals for the Indian government to find a lasting solution to the problem:

  1. Bilateral Agreements
    India and Sri Lanka should work towards agreements that include joint patrolling, regulated fishing zones, and seasonal fishing bans to allow marine ecosystems to regenerate.
  2. Phasing Out Bottom Trawling
    Indian government must expedite its commitment to phasing out bottom trawlers. Financial assistance, training, and access to alternative fishing equipment could help fishermen transition to sustainable practices.
  3. Joint Fishing Zones and Shared Resources
    Creating joint fishing zones near Katchatheevu, with shared access and sustainable fishing quotas, could address concerns from both sides while preserving the environment.
  4. Strengthening Local Livelihoods
    Indian government should invest in alternative livelihoods for coastal communities to reduce dependence on fishing.
  5. Humanitarian Measures
    Establishing a humanitarian protocol for detained fishermen, including timely release and compensation for seized boats, could reduce tensions and foster goodwill.

It is essential that the Indian government should immediately develop a comprehensive plan for relieving the trauma of the affected fishermen. This plan must include phasing out environmentally destructive practices like bottom trawling as well as providing the fishermen  financial and technical support for a transition to alternative livelihoods. Equally critical is the need to compensate affected families and ensure their economic security during the transition period.

Only through a genuinely humanitarian approach can this crisis be resolved, securing justice and dignity for the fishing communities that have borne the brunt of the state’s neglect.

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