New Delhi: The Central government categorically told Tamil Nadu fishermen not to fish in Sri Lankan waters by crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). India's minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj told fishermen's leaders who met her in New Delhi that it was time the Indian fishermen stopped fishing on the Sri Lankan side.
“We explained to her that if we do not fish across the boundary line, we cannot make our ends meet. We have invested heavily in our trawlers and fishing nets,” said P Sesu Raja, leader of a Rameswaram-based mechanised boat fishermen’s association, who was part of the 22-member delegation.
However, Swaraj is said to have “categorically” stated that negotiating the release of arrested fishermen with the island nation was getting increasingly difficult, as Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen were badly hit by excessive trawling.
In response, the fisher leaders asked the Centre to take their trawlers and compensate them. “It was New Delhi that encouraged our fishermen to start using trawlers and now they want us to give up the practice,” Raja said.
Strain on ties
The Palk Bay conflict has also proved a strain on Indo-Lanka ties. “The Minister said Sri Lanka may not release our arrested fishermen easily if we continue to fish in their waters,” Raja said. New Delhi is mulling over deep sea fishing as an alternative, but fisher leaders said the shift would require huge investment and training.
