Informal talks on fishing dispute end inconclusively
Informal talks held in Kachchativu on illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters ended inconclusively on Friday with Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen sticking to their position that they would not agree with illegal fishing that threatened their livelihood.
The talks chaired by Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda on the sidelines of the annual St Anthony’s feast in the islet saw politically connected fishermen representatives from two countries taking part.
Rameswaram Fishermen Federation leader S. Emrit told the Sunday Times it was disappointing to see there was no ‘willingness or mutual understanding’ between the two parties on the longstanding issue, though Tamil Nadu fishermen considered Sri Lankan fishermen their ‘brethren’.
“At the outset, they made it clear that bottom trawling must be eliminated and would not be accepted. If they are going to take that position, how can we proceed with talks since it is not feasible for us to go for alternative fishing suddenly,” he asked.
Both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka’s Northern fishermen said the talks could not be considered official since it was not inclusive of key fishermen unions in Tamil Nadu regions of Rameswaram, Karaikaal, and Nagapattinam. Those who took part were politically connected to Tamil Nadu’s ruling Drvaida Munnetra Kazaham (DMK) while the Sri Lankan side was led by Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) leader and Minister Devananda.
When asked about the recent proposal to issue licences to Indian ‘Naatu’ or country boat fishermen to engage in fishing in Northern waters, Tamil Nadu Trawler owners expressed scepticism over the move since the nets used by those boats were banned under Sri Lanka’s law.
Kayts Fishermen Federation chief A. Annarasa, who did not attend the talks said that Minister was trying to hoodwink the fishermen communities of the two countries with this kind of unofficial talks and only government-level interventions could provide a meaningful solution to the issue.