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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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Captured Indian fishing crafts for Lankan fishermen by Elmo Leonard Around 15 of the sea-worthy 50 Indian fishing craft captured by the Sri Lanka Navy in the island's territorial waters over the past two-and-half months will be handed over to needy Sri Lankan fishermen, according to a decision of the Minister of Fisheries, Chandrasena Wijesinghe. These craft were lying in the navy camps of Karanagar, Kayts and Kankansanthurai, under orders of Jaffna High Court. The Director General of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, G. Piyasena named a technical team which visited these navy camps and put out a report, which would be studied by the Fisheries Minister, next week. The Minister, and Deputy Minister, Nihal Galappaththi are yet to make a decision on how to dispose the fishing craft. These fishing craft are trawlers, 40 to 50 foot in length, made in Tamil Nadu of wood. The engines of some trawlers are good and hulls of others, are in favourable condition. India's fisheries resources are highly depleted due to overfishing over the years. India's government had repeatedly banned fishing by all deep sea vessels in the country's EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) to manage fisheries during the monsoons. On the east coast the ban was effective from April 15 to May 31, while on the west coast the ban is effective from June 10 to August 15. In addition, India has banned fishing on three days of every week. On such days, Indian trawlers come in teams of hundreds, bulldoze Sri Lankan fishing craft and cut the nets of local fishermen. The governments of the two countries have not been able to resolve this long running problem. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu courts, last week released three Sri Lankan multiday fishing craft and their crew of 17, held in an Indian prison. It is alleged that the Sri Lankan craft were in Indian waters. Minister Wijesinghe instructed Talaimannar's Assistant Director of Fisheries, Mohammed Thayoob to welcome the Sri Lankan fishermen, when they arrived in Talaimannar on Friday last week. |
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