{"id":37220,"date":"2025-02-12T19:52:18","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T14:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=37220"},"modified":"2025-08-18T12:46:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T07:16:48","slug":"india-sri-lanka-fisheries-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-02-2025\/india-sri-lanka-fisheries-dispute","title":{"rendered":"India-Sri Lanka Fisheries Dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/India &amp; Its Neighbourhood Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka<\/strong>, particularly in the <strong>Palk Strait<\/strong>, has been a long-standing contentious issue. Allegations of <strong>illegal fishing, destructive fishing practices, and frequent arrests<\/strong> of Indian fishermen by the <strong>Sri Lankan Navy<\/strong> have fueled diplomatic tensions between the two nations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Historical Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Sri Lanka have defined their <strong>maritime boundary<\/strong> through a series of agreements, focusing on <strong>territorial waters, exclusive economic zones (EEZ), and fishing rights<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1974 Agreement<\/strong>: India recognized Sri Lanka\u2019s sovereignty over <strong>Katchatheevu<\/strong>, an uninhabited island in the <strong>Palk Strait.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1976 Agreement<\/strong>: Extended the <strong>maritime boundary<\/strong> and restricted <strong>fishing rights<\/strong> to the respective countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recurrent Arrests &amp; Seizures:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indian fishermen, especially from <strong>Tamil Nadu<\/strong>, frequently <strong>cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL)<\/strong> in search of fish due to <strong>depleting fish stocks<\/strong> in Indian waters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sri Lankan authorities have responded with <strong>arrests, boat confiscations, and legal actions<\/strong>, straining diplomatic relations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Violation of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL):<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>IMBL<\/strong>, established under the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/28-10-2021\/united-nations-convention-for-the-law-of-the-sea-unclos\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/28-10-2021\/united-nations-convention-for-the-law-of-the-sea-unclos\">United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)<\/a><\/strong>, demarcates territorial waters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian fishermen claim historical fishing rights<\/strong> beyond the IMBL, leading to legal and diplomatic conflicts with Sri Lanka.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ecologically Destructive Fishing Methods:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bottom trawling<\/strong> by Indian fishermen is a major concern for Sri Lanka, as it <strong>damages marine habitats<\/strong> and depletes fish stocks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sri Lankan fishermen advocate for <strong>sustainable fishing practices<\/strong> to <strong>protect their waters from over-exploitation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Security Concerns:&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sri Lanka fears that organized trawler intrusions could be <strong>exploited by Tamil militant groups for illegal activities.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Katchatheevu Island Dispute:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indian fishermen <strong>retain limited rights<\/strong> to use <strong>Katchatheevu<\/strong> for <strong>drying nets and resting<\/strong>, but its sovereignty remains a contentious issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tamil Nadu politicians<\/strong> periodically demand its return to India, keeping the dispute alive in public discourse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Livelihood Crisis:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Declining fish stocks in Indian waters<\/strong> have forced <strong>Indian fishermen into Sri Lankan territory<\/strong>, increasing conflicts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen<\/strong>, recovering from <strong>decades of civil war (1983\u20132009)<\/strong>, find their <strong>livelihoods threatened<\/strong> by Indian fishing incursions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c3d1db\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"743\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/India-Sri-Lanka-Fisheries-Dispute.png\" alt=\"india-sri lanka\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-37221\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c3d1db; width:429px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/India-Sri-Lanka-Fisheries-Dispute.png 743w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/02\/India-Sri-Lanka-Fisheries-Dispute-300x181.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 743px) 100vw, 743px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>International Laws on Freedom of Fishing<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA, 1995):<\/strong> Requires nations to comply with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) for fishery access.<br>&#8211; <strong>UNCLOS (1982):<\/strong> Article 87 restricts high-seas fishing for states that fail to comply with international conservation measures.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recent Developments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Diplomatic Talks &amp; Agreements<\/strong>: India and Sri Lanka have <strong>held multiple discussions<\/strong> on the issue, with Sri Lanka urging India to <strong>ban bottom trawling<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Joint Working Group on Fisheries<\/strong>: A bilateral mechanism to address fishing disputes and explore sustainable solutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deep-Sea Fishing Initiatives<\/strong>: The <strong>Indian government<\/strong> has introduced <strong>schemes to promote deep-sea fishing<\/strong>, but <strong>implementation has been slow<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Continued Arrests<\/strong>: Despite diplomatic efforts, <strong>arrests of Indian fishermen persist<\/strong>, with incidents reported in <strong>2023, 2024, and early 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Potential Solutions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bilateral Agreements on Fishing Rights:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A structured agreement allowing <strong>regulated access<\/strong> to <strong>Sri Lankan waters<\/strong> for Indian fishermen under <strong>specific conditions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology and Sustainable Fishing:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encouraging <strong>Indian fishermen to adopt sustainable fishing practices<\/strong> and transition to <strong>deep-sea fishing<\/strong> instead of bottom trawling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Joint Patrolling and Monitoring:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Strengthening <strong>cooperation between Indian and Sri Lankan Coast Guards<\/strong> to prevent <strong>illegal crossings<\/strong> and ensure <strong>fair treatment of fishermen<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compensation and Livelihood Support:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>government should provide financial aid<\/strong> and <strong>alternative employment opportunities<\/strong> for affected fishermen to reduce dependence on illegal fishing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>People-to-People Diplomacy:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Facilitating dialogue<\/strong> between <strong>Indian and Sri Lankan fishing communities<\/strong> to <strong>foster mutual understanding<\/strong> and <strong>reduce tensions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The India-Sri Lanka maritime dispute remains a <strong>complex issue with economic, diplomatic, and ecological dimensions<\/strong>. While <strong>diplomatic discussions continue<\/strong>, a <strong>comprehensive approach<\/strong> involving <strong>sustainable fishing practices, alternative livelihoods, and enhanced maritime cooperation<\/strong> is crucial to achieving <strong>a long-term resolution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in the Palk Strait, has been a long-standing contentious issue. Allegations of illegal fishing, destructive fishing practices, and frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have fueled diplomatic tensions between the two nations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37220"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51460,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37220\/revisions\/51460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}