Tue Mar 04 10:59:53 UTC 2025: ## Sri Lankan Fishermen Suggest Joint Naval Patrols to Curb Palk Bay Poaching
**Jaffna, Sri Lanka –** Amidst escalating tensions over fishing rights in the Palk Bay, Sri Lankan fishermen have proposed a novel solution: joint naval patrols by India and Sri Lanka to combat alleged poaching by Tamil Nadu fishermen.
This suggestion emerged from a February 27th meeting between Northern Province fishing leaders and Indian Consulate General officials in Jaffna. The same day, fishermen from several islands protested against what they termed illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen.
While expressing concerns about economic losses and the environmental impact of bottom trawling, the fishermen emphasized their protest was solely driven by livelihood concerns and lacked political motivation. They presented a petition to Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The fishermen also suggested resuming bilateral talks to find a long-term solution and the deployment of buoys along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) for improved demarcation.
Historically, India has been hesitant towards joint patrols, a preference held by Sri Lanka. However, the issue was discussed in 2022 during a Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on fisheries.
Separately, political analyst A. Jathindra proposed an Indo-Lanka Naval Task Force in the Palk Bay, suggesting Katchatheevu as a potential joint operational base. He even suggested leasing Katchatheevu to India, drawing a parallel with China’s lease of Hambantota port. This, he argues, would deter illegal fishing and arbitrary arrests.
First Piper 