Fri Feb 28 05:37:59 UTC 2025: ## Sri Lankan Fishermen Demand End to Destructive Indian Bottom Trawling

**COLOMBO, SRI LANKA –** The livelihoods of war-affected Sri Lankan fishermen are being devastated by bottom trawling carried out by Indian fishermen, according to C.V. Wigneswaran, former Chief Minister of Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council. In a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Wigneswaran urged immediate action to halt the practice, which he says is depleting marine resources and damaging fishing gear.

The issue has escalated tensions between the two countries. Since January 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy has arrested over 100 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing, leading to a recent strike by Tamil Nadu fishermen after 32 were arrested and five boats seized. Sri Lankan fishermen have long complained of dwindling catches due to overfishing by Indian trawlers.

Wigneswaran highlighted that bottom trawling, outlawed in Sri Lanka since 2017, is still prevalent in some areas, causing conflict among fishermen. He acknowledged the political connections of some trawler owners but believes a solution can be found that protects both businesses and the impoverished fishermen. He called for collaborative efforts between Tamil Nadu and New Delhi to address the longstanding problem.

Despite a decade-old agreement between India and Sri Lanka to address the Palk Bay fishing conflict, little progress has been made, leaving Sri Lankan fishermen facing further hardship due to post-war challenges, the pandemic, and Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. The issue was also raised in the Sri Lankan Parliament, with MPs urging the government to take action against illegal fishing, although India was not explicitly named. Protests by northern Sri Lankan fishermen further underscored the urgency of the situation.

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