India - Sri Lanka: Fishermen Issue

What is the issue?

In a latest incident, the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly fired at a group of Indian fishermen who had allegedly crossed over into Sri Lankan waters on the lookout for a fresh catch.

What are the major reasons?

• According to Joint Working Group on Fisheries (JWGF) data, 111 boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen and 51 Indian fishermen were in arrest or detention in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.
• Reasons include on-going disagreement over the territorial rights to the island of Kachchatheevu, frequent poaching by Indian fisherman in Sri Lankan waters, and the damaging economic and environmental effects of trawling.
• Due to the dearth of multi-day fishing capability, Indian fishermen cannot shift their fishing effort from the Palk Bay area to the offshore areas way beyond the continental shelf.
• Also, due to a gradual drop in fish count in the Indian waters, Indian fishermen are forced to wander into Sri Lankan waters as the catch is insufficient here.

What is the issue of Kachchatheevu?

• One of the major reasons complicating the issue is of Kachchatheevu Island.
• India ceded the uninhabited island to its southern neighbour in 1974 under a conditional accord.
• In fact, initially the 1974 border agreement did not affect fishing on either sides of the border.
• In 1976, through an exchange of letter, both India and Sri Lanka agreed to stop fishing in each other’s waters.
• In 2009, the Sri Lankan government declared Kachchatheevu Island as sacred land owing to a Catholic shrine’s presence on the piece of land.
• The issue arises more out of a domestic tussle rather than the India-Sri Lanka view on the issue.
• The Central government of India, according to the 1974 accord, recognises Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over Kachchatheevu.
• Tamil fishermen believe that Kachchatheevu is traditionally their territory and so they have a right to fish there.
• The Sri Lankan authorities believe that this endangers the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen.

Was there any recent initiative taken by the govts?

• In November 2016, an inter-ministerial delegation discussed terms for a joint working group but the Sri Lankan delegation rejected India’s request for a three year grace period so that the government can assist fishermen to move from bottom trawling fishing method to another sustained and effective method.

What is the way ahead?

• India can try to get back the island of Kachchatheevu on “lease in perpetuity”.
• Permit licensed Indian fishermen to fish within a designated area of Sri Lankan waters and vice versa.
• There is a glaring need for institutionalisation of fishing in Indian waters by the government of India so that alternative means of livelihood are provided.
• Government will have to mark up a comprehensive plan to reduce the dependence of Indian fishermen on catch from Palk Bay.

Source: The Indian Express, IDSA