News
Fuel crisis grounds Lankan fishermen as Indian trawlers have a field day
View(s):By S. Rubatheesan
With a weekly quota of only 30 litres of kerosene, Northern fishermen say they are forced to restrict their activity to coastal waters, unable to reach the deep sea for better catches.
While local fishermen remain unable to venture out, Tamil Nadu fishermen continue illegal bottom trawling in Sri Lanka’s northern seas.
Jaffna District Fishermen’s Federation committee member Pakiyanathan Regan told the Sunday Times that the union has taken steps to distribute fuel, but supplies remain inadequate.
Fuel restrictions have curtailed deep sea fishing
“Unlike in the past, we cannot fish near the coast anymore, since those grounds are depleted. We have to go into deep waters, but fuel is our main worry nowadays,” Mr Regan said.
Beyond the effects of marine climate change on fishing banks, newly established sea cucumber farms along Jaffna’s coast have also become a hindrance, he claimed.
These farms were built by fencing off stretches of coastal areas with barbed nets to nurture sea cucumbers until maturity. Fishermen allege that this fencing disrupts the seasonal movement of fish banks needed for reproduction in coastal waters.
In the North alone, at least 500 sea cucumber farms were set up under the previous government. They were actively promoted, as dried sea cucumber exports to East Asia brought in foreign exchange.
“We did not know then that it would become a major issue for our livelihood. Some of us objected on ecological grounds, but we were told these farms would bring in dollars,” Mr. Regan recalled.
Fish prices in local markets have also surged in recent weeks, following the fuel shortage. At the Kurunagar market in Jaffna, paraw, crabs, and prawns sold for over Rs. 2,500–3,000 per kilo this week.
In Mannar, fishermen’s unions have introduced a weekly quota of 25 litres of kerosene and half a litre of petrol per boat to sustain thousands of fisherfolk in the district.
Northern Province Fishermen’s Association Secretary N.M. Aalam said that, given the country’s current situation, unions are prioritising smooth fishing operations to safeguard livelihoods.
“Unfortunately, we cannot fish as we used to, but Indian fishermen continue to operate as usual in Mannar Bay—using this as an opportunity,” he said.
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