Indian fishermen optimistic of a lasting solution

Expressing satisfaction over the deliberations at the ‘Internal Stakeholders Meeting’ chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Delhi on Friday, leaders of Fishermen’s Associations said they were optimistic that the Centre would soon find a lasting solution to their problem. A delegation of 13 mechanised and country boat fishermen leaders from Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Thanjavur and Union Territory of Puducherry attended the meeting convened by the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) division of the External Affairs Ministry.

“For the first time in two years after the Modi government came to power at the Centre, we witnessed a positive approach from the government and we firmly believe that the Centre would work out a solution to the problem,” U. Arulanandham, President of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), M. Ilango former MLA from Puducherry and P. Sesu Raja, fishermen leader from Rameswaram, said.

The leaders made a strong case for securing the release of 113 boats, impounded by the Lankan government, at least before it held the bilateral talks with the Lankan authorities and Ms. Swaraj promised to prevail upon the Lankan government and secure the release, they said. Pointing out that they had traditional fishing right in the Palk Bay, the leaders sought three years to phase out bottom trawling, which was not acceptable to the Lankan authorities.the Indian fishermen had already stopped using the banned twin trawling, monofilament and purse seine nets, they said. State Fisheries secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi explained as why the Indian fishermen were forced to cross the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) that too when they faced the risk of getting arrested and their boats confiscated. (The Hindu)