By Shamindra Ferdinando

Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar yesterday (13) emphasised that only the Central Government of India could prevent the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet from poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

The Minister said that the Central Government of India in consultation with Tamil Nadu should without further delay deploy the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to prevent large-scale organised crossing of the Indo-Lanka maritime boundary.

The JVPer said so when The Island asked him what he intended to do to curb poaching and the destructive fishing practice known as bottom trawling practised by the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet in our waters. “Our Navy and Coast Guard regularly conduct operations in the northern waters to deter the TN fishing fleet. But only India got the wherewithal to stop this menace,” Chandrasekar said.

Responding to another query, the lawmaker stressed that the NPP government would not hesitate to take a firm stand on the issue. “We believe that India should prevent TN fishing fleet from crossing the maritime boundary,” Minister Chandrasekar said, adding that during his interactions with relevant Indian authorities and diplomatic staff, including High Commissioner Santosh Jha, he had taken up the issue.

The Minister said that he had explained the difficulties experienced by the northern fishing community due to the Indian fishers stealing their catch, when Charles Callanan, Director, UNOPS South Asia paid a courtesy call on him recently. They may not intervene or comment on this matter but there was no harm in briefing them of the actual situation on the northern seas, the Minister said.

The people of the northern and eastern regions, too, overwhelmingly voted for the NPP, the lawmaker said, adding that therefore the problems faced by the northern and eastern fishers should be addressed.

Minister Chandrasekar said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had, during his three-day official visit to New Delhi in January, raised the issue at the highest level.

Asked whether he was aware of the protests that had been directed at Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader S. Sritharan, MP, over his recent visit to see Tamil Nadu fishermen held at the Jaffna prison, Minister Chandrasekar said an NPP lawmaker too visited them. “We never sought media coverage for our visit to Jaffna prison,” Minister Chandrasekar said, adding that the government was determined to push for tangible solutions for recurring issues.

Acknowledging that various interested parties both here and in India sought political mileage at the expense of poaching by the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet, Minister Chandrasekar said that Sri Lanka had no option but to continue naval operations to deter encroachments.

Quoting northern fishers, Minister Chandrasekar alleged that at the rate Tamil Nadu fishing fleet stole Sri Lanka’s fisheries resources nothing would remain in 15 to 20 years’ time. The minister appreciated the efforts made by the navy to protect the interests of Sri Lankan fishermen.

Tamil Nadu poaching can be an issue at the forthcoming Local Government polls. There had been several incidents involving the navy and Tamil Nadu fishing vessels during the past couple of years. One incident claimed the life of a Special Boat Squadron man while two Indian fishers were shot and wounded in another. The second incident prompted India to summon Sri Lanka’s Acting HC in New Delhi to the Foreign Office where a warning was issued over the incident.

Minister Chandrasekar said that India should take meaningful measures to stop illegal fishing, thereby avoiding unnecessary incidents. The minister acknowledged that in spite of quite a number of arrests over the years, the Tamil Nadu fishing fleet seemed bent on continuing with the lucrative practice.