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Poaching by Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka sees drop
19 Dec, 2016
Poaching by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters has seen a 50 percent drop, the Fisheries Ministry said today.
The Fisheries Ministry said that steps taken by the Navy and Coast Guard to arrest Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters has resulted in the drop in the number of fishermen poaching in Sri Lanka.
Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that all Indian boats seized before 2015 had been returned to India.
However he said boats seized after 2015 had not been returned and they were impounded after taking legal action.
He said that while Indian fishermen were released on humanitarian grounds, Sri Lanka will continue to arrest any Indian fishermen found poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
He also said that Sri Lanka has raised concerns with India on the damage caused to Sri Lankan fishing resources by Indian fishermen.
The Minister said that talks to resolve the Indo-Lanka fishing issue will also continue and another round of discussions will take place in Colombo on January 2 next year.
He said that the Indian Foreign Minister and Fisheries Minister are expected to attend the talks in Colombo next month. (Colombo Gazette)
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