Rameswaram: The fishing community in Tamil Nadu launched an indefinite strike on Monday, protesting the arrest of 32 fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. The strike, which has halted operations of 700 mechanized deep-sea trawlers at Tamil Nadu’s largest fish landing center, Rameswaram, is resulting in a daily revenue loss of ₹1 crore and affecting the livelihoods of over 10,000 families.
Protests & Government Response
The large-scale protests intensified across the state following the seizure of fishing vessels by Sri Lankan authorities. In response, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin contacted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging him to convene a Joint Working Group between India and Sri Lanka to resolve the ongoing issue and secure the release of all detained fishermen and their boats. Stalin pointed out that since January 2024, a total of 119 fishermen and 16 boats have been apprehended by Sri Lanka in eight separate incidents.
Recurring Maritime Disputes
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the repeated arrests as a threat to India’s sovereignty and emphasized that the issue should be addressed as a humanitarian and livelihood concern, as agreed upon during the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries meeting in October 2023.
The latest incident took place early Sunday morning, when Sri Lanka’s Navy arrested fishermen from Rameswaram and nearby areas, confiscating five trawlers on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters along the Palk Strait.
Fishermen’s Demand for a Permanent Solution
Fishing organizations across Tamil Nadu’s coastal districts have warned of continued protests until the Union government finds a lasting solution.
- P. Jesuraja, president of the All India Mechanized Boats Fishermen Association, noted that in 2023 alone, 530 Indian fishermen were arrested, and 381 trawlers were seized.
- He highlighted that during a December 2023 meeting in Delhi, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to view the fishermen’s issue from a humanitarian perspective.
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi expressed solidarity with fishing communities in Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Thirunelveli, and Kanyakumari, who continue to risk their lives while facing constant threats from the Sri Lankan Navy.
Concerns Over Vessel Auctions & Diplomatic Inaction
- Fishermen’s Coordinating Committee leader R. Sagayam raised concerns over Sri Lanka’s decision to auction off 67 seized fishing vessels, including five country boats and 62 mechanized boats, in 2024.
- He criticized the Indian government’s silence, calling the move unjust and warning that such actions endanger the livelihoods of thousands.
- Sagayam urged the Indian government to facilitate direct talks between Tamil Nadu fishermen and their Sri Lankan counterparts to resolve territorial disputes peacefully.
NJ Bose, a fishermen’s leader from Rameswaram, pointed out that the Katchatheevu Agreement of 1974 drastically reduced Indian fishing grounds from 52 to just 12 nautical miles, leaving little room for sustainable fishing.
Lok Sabha MP K. Navas Kani blamed the Union government’s lack of intervention, stating that over 3,500 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been arrested over the past decade due to unresolved disputes.
Call for Diplomatic Intervention
Kanimozhi urged the Indian government to follow international examples, citing successful negotiations between Norway and Russia, Australia and Indonesia, and the U.S. and Canada on similar maritime conflicts.
“The first step is for India to take strong diplomatic action and demand the immediate release of our fishermen,” said NJ Bose. Meanwhile, AP Lipton, a retired marine scientist, suggested that Tamil Nadu fishermen should also avoid using prohibited trawlers in Sri Lankan waters to prevent further disputes.
With no immediate resolution in sight, the fishing community remains firm in its indefinite strike, demanding a permanent solution to the long-standing maritime conflict.
