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| Sunday, 16 March 2003 |
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Mannar and Pesalai fishermen say their situation is critical by Elmo Leonard Sri Lankan fishermen from the Pesalai Cooperative Society have accused the Indian fishermen engaging in high-handed piracy within Sri Lanka's lucrative Northern waters, with Indian authorities not doing much to correct the situation. Assistant Director for Fisheries (Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources) Sulaiman Thayoob, who underscored the local fishermen's sentiments, but counsellor to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, K. B. Gokulachandran denied the accusation. "The Government of India is fully aware of the problem, and we are taking steps to correct the situation." he said. Sri Lanka, bound by the peace agreement holding for a year, limits the island's fishermen to the use of seventeen-and-a-half foot fishing craft, with limited powered engines. The Indian fishermen who encroach in Sri Lankan waters bulldoze their way, using 40ft and 50ft fishing crafts fitted with over 100 horse power engines. The Indian fishing craft, ram and damage Sri Lankan fishing craft Thayoob said. Fishermen from Mannar and Pesalai said that the situation was critical for them. They put out to sea within their territorial waters on odd days, while the Indians intruded on even days of the month, which is a forced upon, and unwritten agreement for the Sri Lankans. The Sri Lanka Navy has said that it is outside their purview to apprehend Indian fishing craft, Fisheries Ministry officials said. Mannar, was the scene of large demonstrations last week, following the release of some Indian fishermen apprehended by Sri Lankan fishermen. Parliamentarians Selvam Adakonathan and Raja Kohinaswaran joined an estimated 7,000 fishermen in the protest, Thayoob said. While the release of the Indian fishermen was a court order, conforming to the law of the land; what the fishermen are protesting is the presence of Indian fishermen within the island's EEZ. Moreover, the Indian fishermen use purse-seine or trawling, which is banned by the Sri Lankan authorities, within the continental shelf, where the Indians fish. "The Indians also use banned nets of a sixteenth of an inch," Thayoob said. Such methods of trawling destroys the future generations of fish resources. In countering terrorist activity for 20 years, the government of Sri Lanka prevented its fishermen from fishing even inside its EEZ. Non-fishing has led to a concentration of biodiversity. "The Indian catch of shrimp alone per day, inside Sri Lankan waters, would amount to an unbelievable sum," a fisherman said through an interpreter. Before the war began 20 years ago, Northern waters provided 40 percent of fish which entered the Colombo wholesale fish market. Besides, wild-caught shrimp in these waters accounted for multi-million Dollar exports, which pierced into even the Japanese and European markets. Besides, this area provided thriving exports of wild-caught lobsters, crabs and other high demand and lesser known food species in plenty. Today, according to Fisheries Ministry officials, this area abounds with Silver Bellies, herrings, sardines, mackerel, cuttlefish, beach cucumbers (Beach-de-mer) which fetch over $50 per kilo, and are sold in the Far East. The island of Mannar, Delft, Pungudutivu, Karaitivu, Kachitivu, and other islands lie along this Northern Sri Lanka area. The distance which separates Sri Lanka from India is between 30 to nine miles at its closest. Now, fishermen from Mannar to the Jaffna peninsula covering hundreds of miles along the coast have migrated to other areas. - "The fishing industry here is in hibernation and is exploited by the Indian fishermen. The elected members of the Indian government perhaps want to give the Indian voter a better life," Thayoob said. |
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