Eight Tamil Nadu fishermen from Rameswaram arrested by Sri Lankan Navy

Eight fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy for poaching, sparking concerns over safety and livelihood of Rameswaram fishermen.

In a fresh incident, eight fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching near Neduntheevu islet in the wee hours on Sunday (January 12, 2024).

According to a fisheries department official, they had issued tokens to 169 mechanised boats on Saturday morning from Rameswaram jetty. They were scheduled to return to the shore on Sunday evening.

Under such circumstances, it is said that when eight fishermen were engaged in fishing, the surveillance team of Sri Lankan Navy had detained them and seized their trawlers stating that they had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line.

The fishermen were taken to a Naval port in Sri Lanka, officials here said and added that the two trawlers were also being towed to the port.

The fisheries department identified the two boat owners as: Mukesh Kumar of Rameswaram and Maria Retrisan of Thangachimadam with registration numbers as IND TN 10 MM 879 and IND TN 10 MM 159.

Condemning the incident, the members of the fishermen associations here said that their pleas have not been redressed by the Union government. Expressing concern, the leaders also said that it was no more safe for them to engage in fishing in the Palk Bay as they had not only lost their livelihood, but also their properties to the Sri Lankan authorities.

By not returning the over 270 trawlers impounded since 2018, the fishermen had lost jobs and also ended up in a loss since they had to repay the debts. Both the Union and State governments had let down the fisherfolks, they blamed and hoped the arrested fishermen returned home safely.