Palk Bay Fisheries Dispute
The Palk Bay fisheries dispute involves longstanding tensions between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, mainly over fishing rights and environmental impacts in the Palk Bay region.
Recent Developments
- Sri Lankan Parliament's Leader, Bimal Rathnayake, urged decisive action against illegal fishing by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
- Rathnayake emphasized the importance of protecting the livelihoods of Tamil-speaking fishermen in Sri Lanka's Northern Province.
- No official response from India's External Affairs Ministry or Tamil Nadu government has been made regarding his statement.
Concerns and Challenges
- Bottom trawling by Indian fishermen is a major concern due to its destructive impact on marine ecosystems.
- The economic disparity between Tamil Nadu fishermen and Sri Lankan fishermen complicates resolution efforts.
- Factors such as limited fishing areas and restrictive regulations in India impact Indian fishermen's practices.
Suggested Solutions
- Promote alternative practices like seaweed cultivation, open sea cage cultivation, and sea/ocean ranching.
- Propose merging the Palk Bay deep-sea fishing scheme with the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to facilitate deeper participation in sustainable fishing methods.
Recommendations for Dialogue
- There is a need to resume talks between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen; the last talks were held in November 2016.
- The Joint Working Group meeting in 2022 called for these discussions.
- Upcoming months are ideal for negotiations due to the fishing ban on India's eastern coast.
- Colombo is encouraged to initiate dialogue during Indian Prime Minister's expected visit in April.