7 Rameswaram Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lanka Navy After 398 Boats Venture Into Sea

The Sri Lanka Navy on Sunday, November 1, apprehended seven Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized their mechanised fishing trawler for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters near Katchatheevu.

According to Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials, the fishermen were intercepted at around 1 am while fishing between Katchatheevu islet and North Mannar. They were taken along with their vessel to a Sri Lankan naval port.

The arrested fishermen belong to Rameswaram, Thangachimadam and Pamban in Ramanathapuram district. They have been identified as S Plasius (41), S Alagu Pandi (22), A Antony Pitchai (33), J Rabin (21), A Nelson (58), R Arulananda Xavier (65) and A Sahaya Anand (34).

The incident occurred after the Fisheries Department issued 398 fishing tokens on Saturday, October 31, allowing mechanised boats from Rameswaram to venture into the sea. The fishermen were scheduled to return to shore on Sunday evening, but the seven men were detained before completing their fishing trip.

The Sri Lanka Navy said its North Central Naval Command spotted several Indian fishing trawlers allegedly trespassing into Sri Lankan waters north of Talaimannar. Following an operation, the Navy apprehended the seven fishermen and seized their vessel. They were taken to the Talaimannar jetty and will be handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources office in Mannar for further legal proceedings.

The arrests have triggered concern and anger among Tamil Nadu's fishing community, particularly with Deepavali approaching. Fishermen's association representatives have condemned the incident and urged both the Tamil Nadu and Central governments to intervene and secure the immediate release of the detained men.

The fishermen's leaders have also announced plans to convene a meeting of associations across coastal districts to discuss their next course of action. The latest arrests come after more than 400 mechanised fishing boats reportedly ventured into the sea from Rameswaram on Saturday, following a four-day suspension of fishing activities due to a cyclone warning.

The incident is part of a recurring dispute over fishing rights in the Palk Strait, which separates Tamil Nadu from northern Sri Lanka. On October 3, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested nine Rameswaram fishermen and seized their mechanised fishing boat. The incident subsequently figured in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's October 5 letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking the release of 20 fishermen then in Sri Lankan custody and the return of 270 seized fishing boats. He also called for renewed engagement through the bilateral Joint Working Group on Fisheries.

Earlier, nine fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested in July, while seven fishermen and two mechanised boats were detained in March. Frequent arrests and boat seizures have continued to affect the livelihoods of fishing communities on both sides of the maritime boundary.