Indian fishermen back again and ‘crushing’ our livelihoods, say Sri Lankan counterparts

Northern Tamil fishermen seek meeting with TN CM M.K. Stalin to discuss a “permanent solution” 

Just after Tamil Nadu’s annual fishing ban ended mid-June, Indian fishing trawlers are back near Sri Lanka’s northern coast, “crushing” fishermen’s livelihoods that are already under enormous strain during the island’s economic crisis, according to northern Sri Lankan fisher leaders.

“At least four of our fishermen’s nets, worth 6.5 lakh rupees [LKR], were damaged by the Indian trawlers yesterday in Point Pedro. The economic crisis has already impacted us severely, we don’t have enough kerosene for our boats. Now the return of the trawlers is just crushing what is left of our livelihoods,” said Annalingam Annarasa, leader of the federation of fisher cooperative societies in Jaffna, on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu’s annual fishing ban— to allow breeding of marine organisms— that lasts for nearly two months, usually offers some respite to northern Sri Lankan fishermen. Fishermen in Mannar, Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi could go fishing with greater hopes of a decent catch, and no fear of their nets being damaged.

However, this year, fishermen in the island’s northern, coastal districts hardly went to the sea during this time due to an acute shortage of kerosene, used by 90% of the fisherfolk for their modest boats.  “We get some kerosene once in 12 or 14 days, and it’s just 20 litres per boat. Only about 20 % of our fishermen have been able to go out to the sea with that,” Mr. Annarasa told The Hindu.

Sri Lanka’s crippling economic crisis has compounded the northern fishing community’s old challenges of falling production and incomes, for which they mainly blame Indian trawlers that originate from Tamil Nadu and fish illegally in Sri Lankan waters. Their concern has persisted for well over a decade, but the problem remains unresolved.

The Hindu Explainer: The Palk Bay fisheries conflict: A tale of competing livelihoods and a depleted catch