Sri Lankan Navy arrests 9 Indian fishermen, seizes trawler near Talaimannar

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested nine Indian fishermen and seized their trawler near Talaimannar after alleging illegal fishing. The fresh action sharpens a long-running India-Sri Lanka dispute over fishing rights in the Palk Strait.

In Short

• The trawler was intercepted near Urumalei Point in Talaimannar on Wednesday night
• Navy alleged the vessel crossed IMBL and used banned bottom trawling
• Fishermen and boat will face legal proceedings before Mannar fisheries authorities

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested nine Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly fishing illegally in the island nation’s waters, authorities said on Thursday.

The arrests were made on Wednesday night after the trawler was found near Urumalei Point in Talaimannar, according to the Navy. It said the vessel had allegedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan waters and was engaged in bottom trawling.

In a release, the Navy said, "The apprehended fishermen (nine) and the fishing trawler will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar for onward legal proceedings."

The release also said the Gulf of Mannar ecosystem around Mannar Island and Adam’s Bridge is recognised internationally and locally as a high-priority marine biodiversity and conservation cluster, and is subject to specific fisheries management and environmental protection rules.

The fishermen issue remains a contentious one in India-Sri Lanka ties, with Sri Lankan Navy personnel having fired at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seized their boats in several alleged cases of illegal entry into Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Palk Strait, a narrow stretch of water between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. Fishermen from India and Sri Lanka are frequently arrested for inadvertently crossing into each other’s waters.

In the last week of July, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested nine Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters. According to official data, 128 Indian fishermen had been arrested and 18 trawlers seized by the Sri Lankan Navy this year as of April 15. The latest arrests add to a long-running dispute over fishing rights and alleged trespassing in the waters between the two countries.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends