The continued intrusion of Indian fishermen into Sri Lankan territorial waters has become an impediment to fishermen in the north who are now enjoying unrestricted access to the seas in the area after nearly three decades.
S. Thavaratnam, the President of the Jaffna District Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Union’s Federation said deep sea fishing by Indian fishermen using trawlers was depriving locals access to fish stocks in mid sea.
 |
| Thavaratnam, President Jaffna District fisherman’s Union |
“The seas around the north have been over-exploited by Indian fishermen over the years as Sri Lankan fishermen could not venture out due to security considerations. “But now that we have unhindered access, this has to stop,” Mr. Thavaratnam said.
The Fishermen’s Federation has forwarded a proposal to the Fisheries Ministry to initiate action at state level with the Indian government to enable Indian fishermen access to within five kilometres of Sri Lankan waters starting from first October this year to last up to a year where they can fish for two days a week.
“We have made this proposal as the Indian fishermen who venture into our waters are poor folk who live along the coastal belt in South India from Rameswaram to Chennai. “Hence a grace period should be given for them to move out from our areas,” Mr. Thavaratnam said.The proposal has been mooted after talks between the Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen.
 |
| Fishing boats coming ashore |
He added after this period, Indian fishermen should not be allowed access to Sri Lankan waters.
Local fishermen lack sophisticated fishing vessels which is proving a hindrance as they cannot match the more powerful trawlers used by their Indian counterparts in mid sea.
He added negotiations with a state bank were underway to enable local fishermen to obtain loans to acquire better equipment, while assistance had been sought from the Fisheries Department to obtain multi day boats.
“The northern fishermen contributed around 26 per cent of the total production of fish in the country in 1983, with around 48,776 metric tonnes of fish they managed to produce around 4,000 metric tonnes per year during the troubled times. But business is now picking up.
“The rich stocks of fish in mid seas are well within Sri Lanka territorial waters and we need access to them so we can contribute our full potential to national production,” Mr.Thavaratnam said.
Prices too have risen in recent months with buyers coming from the south to purchase stocks, fishermen in the area said.
The daily fish auction at the fisheries harbour at Gurunagar has become a hive of activity with keen bidding to get best prices for the catch.
Sea Cucumber abound
in these waters
The large stock of sea cucumber found in the area -a delicacy in several South East Asian countries- is helping fishermen in Jaffna receive a good income.
A permit is required to harvest sea cucumber which fetches between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15, 000 a kg.
The creature is found in the deep seas and with a large stocks available in the area, fisherman are enjoying a bountiful catch after years of being unable to exploit the seas around the peninsula due to restrictions placed due to security concerns.
According to fishermen in the area, most of their catch is exported to Singapore, Malaysia and Japan |
E-mail
