RAMANATHAPURAM: The Sri Lankan navy detained 43 fishermen hailing from Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu and seized six trawlers on which they were fishing in the territorial waters of the island nation on Saturday night.
The seized trawlers were among nearly 570 mechanised boats and trawlers that set sail from Rameswaram on Saturday morning for fishing. They were supposed to return on Sunday morning.
The fishermen crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) late in the evening and were fishing in the sea off the Neduntheevu ((Delft Island) . The Sri Lankan navy chased away smaller mechanised boats. The incident happened between 10 pm and 11 pm.
Fishermen, who returned to the shores, said that the Sri Lankan navy then detained the fishermen on board six bigger trawlers (bearing the registration numbers IND-TN-10-MM-753, IND-TN-10-MM-1033, IND-TN-10-MM-1003, IND-TN-10-MM-2576, IND-TN-10-MM-1037 and IND-TN-10-MM-161). All the detained men are aged between 19 and 54 years.
According to a statement from the Sri Lankan navy, a special operation was conducted in the sea off the Delft Island by the 4th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla (4 FAF) attached to the Northern Naval Command on Saturday night. This was taking into account the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in their waters, the livelihood of local fishing community and the sustainability of fishery resources of Sri Lanka, it said.
The navy added that the 43 fishermen were arrested adhering to the Covid-19 protocols and they were handed over to the relevant authorities for onward legal action after rapid antigen tests. They were taken to the Myliddy harbour.
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu urged the Centre and the state government to immediately intervene and ensure speedy release and return of the men to Rameswaram.
A meeting of 11 mechanised fishing boat associations in Rameswaram unanimously resolved to condemn the arrests of the fishermen who went fishing for their livelihood. Announcing an indefinite strike till the 43 fishermen and the boats reach Rameswaram safely, the unions also decided to stage a mass protest at Rameswaram bus stand on Monday to draw the attention of the government.
The seized trawlers were among nearly 570 mechanised boats and trawlers that set sail from Rameswaram on Saturday morning for fishing. They were supposed to return on Sunday morning.
The fishermen crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) late in the evening and were fishing in the sea off the Neduntheevu ((Delft Island) . The Sri Lankan navy chased away smaller mechanised boats. The incident happened between 10 pm and 11 pm.
Fishermen, who returned to the shores, said that the Sri Lankan navy then detained the fishermen on board six bigger trawlers (bearing the registration numbers IND-TN-10-MM-753, IND-TN-10-MM-1033, IND-TN-10-MM-1003, IND-TN-10-MM-2576, IND-TN-10-MM-1037 and IND-TN-10-MM-161). All the detained men are aged between 19 and 54 years.
According to a statement from the Sri Lankan navy, a special operation was conducted in the sea off the Delft Island by the 4th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla (4 FAF) attached to the Northern Naval Command on Saturday night. This was taking into account the impact of foreign fishermen poaching in their waters, the livelihood of local fishing community and the sustainability of fishery resources of Sri Lanka, it said.
The navy added that the 43 fishermen were arrested adhering to the Covid-19 protocols and they were handed over to the relevant authorities for onward legal action after rapid antigen tests. They were taken to the Myliddy harbour.
Fishermen in Tamil Nadu urged the Centre and the state government to immediately intervene and ensure speedy release and return of the men to Rameswaram.
A meeting of 11 mechanised fishing boat associations in Rameswaram unanimously resolved to condemn the arrests of the fishermen who went fishing for their livelihood. Announcing an indefinite strike till the 43 fishermen and the boats reach Rameswaram safely, the unions also decided to stage a mass protest at Rameswaram bus stand on Monday to draw the attention of the government.
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