After repeated arrests, SC calls for sensitising fishermen crossing into Sri Lankan waters

The Supreme Court said steps were needed to prevent repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, suggesting fishermen be sensitised about the maritime boundary.

In Short

• Supreme Court urges Centre and Tamil Nadu to educate fishermen on maritime boundaries
• Attorney General cites fish stock decline in Indian waters causing fishermen to cross border
• Justice Sanjay Kumar highlights better civic responsibility and less pollution in Sri Lanka

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments to sensitise fishermen against crossing the international maritime boundary and entering Sri Lankan territorial waters, amid repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities.

The remarks came as the court was hearing petitions challenging the alleged "unconstitutional ceding" of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka under the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement.

During the hearing, Attorney General R Venkataramani referred to the repeated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lanka. While arguments were being made about alleged pollution of Indian coastal waters and its impact on fish availability, the Attorney General said fishermen were venturing into Sri Lankan waters because fish stocks had declined on the Indian side.

"Fishermen are told not to go into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, they still venture there. Look what happens today, the fishermen in Tamil Nadu have virtually depleted fish availability in Tamil Nadu and therefore they want to go there. We are polluting our seas. They are not coming here," the Attorney General said.

He added that fishermen who continued to cross into Sri Lankan waters for fishing risked being arrested.

Justice Sanjay Kumar said steps needed to be taken to prevent such arrests and suggested sensitising fishermen about the maritime boundary.

"Either you sensitise the fishermen to not go beyond a particular point," the bench observed.

The bench also remarked that Indian fishermen had overfished and polluted waters close to the Indian coast, while Sri Lanka appeared to have exercised greater civic responsibility in protecting its fisheries and coastal waters.

"I have been to Sri Lanka myself, and I was amazed to see that I couldn't see anyone trashing on the road, and even in the old city. They are so civic-conscious, unlike us. That is a sad situation. So obviously, they don't dump anything into their seas also. If they don't do it on their roads, obviously they wouldn't do it in their seas. That is perhaps the reason why the fishes perhaps stray away to the Sri Lankan waters," Justice Kumar remarked.

The Attorney General also told the court that India has an “excellent relationship” with Sri Lanka and does not want the dispute over the maritime agreement to affect bilateral diplomatic ties. He said diplomatic efforts were underway to resolve the issue.

The Supreme Court will hear the matter again in February 2027.

- Ends