Despite hopes raised by the meeting of the Foreign and Fisheries Ministers of India and Sri Lanka in New Delhi on November 5, the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters and getting arrested or beaten up, continues.

Apparently, no steps have been taken by India to provide the fishermen with an alternative to bottom trawling in the Palk Strait, or secure the release of 105 trawlers, now in Sri Lankan custody. With each costing `25 lakh, the detention is hitting huge numbers of Tamil fishermen economically say Indian media.

As per the India-Sri Lanka communiqué issued on November 5, the Joint Working Group of Fisheries will meet every three months; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries will meet every six months, and the fishermen’s associations will also meet every six months. India had agreed to “consider” the Sri Lankan proposal for joint naval patrolling of the Palk Strait.

To curb destructive bottom trawling, India promised to expedite a transition to deep sea fishing. But like the past agreements, the devil will be in implementation. With Indian fishermen having no immediate alternative to fishing in Sri Lankan waters, they will continue to cross the International Maritime Boundary Line. New Delhi is unlikely to use force if there is joint patrolling, and Colombo will be dismayed.

Indian fishermen have been unsuccessfully pleading for 85 days of fishing in a year as an interim measure to allow the transition from bottom trawling. Lankan fishermen say that experience shows that Tamil fishermen do not keep their word. To help transition to deep sea fishing, New Delhi’ financial help is essential. TN had asked the Centre for `9750 million over three years, a request which is yet to be met. 

According to NIE things don’t look good for Indian fishermen with the Sri Lankan government considering imposing fines up to `7 crore on vessels entering its waters illegally. 

Prospects of a resolution of the fishing issue look dim indeed.