A voice from across the boundary line
A fishermen’s leader from the Sri Lankan Northern Province told The Hindu on condition of anonymity that the Sri Lankan fishers were upset at the use of banned nets by their Tamil Nadu counterparts. The use of purse seine nets not only damages the natural resources but also affects the catch. “When the fishermen are aware of the consequences of violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), they cannot fault the Sri Lankan Navy personnel who are only doing their duty,” he said.
‘Unfair claim’
Above all, the Indian Coast Guard personnel patrolling the Palk Bay have GPS and they must warn the Tamil Nadu fishermen if they were found crossing the IMBL, especially since they knew well that they were fishing in international waters and claiming it as their right was unfair and unacceptable, he said.
He said the Sri Lankan courts had only now punished the Tamil Nadu fishermen, especially the repeatoffenders, and the penalty was welcomed by the Sri Lankan fishing community. “No doubt, India and Sri Lanka are friendly nations. During the economic crisis, the Indian government and the Tamil Nadu government, under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, had given us aid. The Sri Lankan people will not forget it,” he said. But he hastened to stress that the Indian fishermen should confine fishing activities to Indian waters or they must face the legal consequences. “The Tamil Nadu fishermen should go in for deepsea fishing as their government is offering concessions. We know of fishermen from Rameswaram who are engaged in deepsea fishing in Mangaluru, Kochi, and other parts,” he added.