Indo - Lanka fisheries crisis License system for fishing in SL waters, Minister refuses bottom trawling

• Maritime resources on the Indian side of the sea have already been destroyed. We cannot allow further damage to our resources
• The fisheries issue is a long standing irritant to bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and India

By Kelum Bandara 

In response to a proposal for the introduction of a license system for fishing in Sri Lankan waters to resolve the India - Sri Lanka fisheries crisis, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said he refused to allow the use of trawling nets no matter what . 

The Minister told Daily Mirror yesterday that he held talks with Indian Union Minister of Fisheries L.Murugan who arrived in Jaffna to participate in the function to mark the opening of the India - funded Jaffna cultural center.

He said a proposal had been mooted to introduce a license system for Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters to prevent poaching .

Bottom trawling is a banned fishing method . Bottom Trawling is the use of  weighted nets which are dragged across the sea bed .

The Minister said it destroys maritime resources even affecting fish breeding .

“The maritime resources of the Indian side of the sea have already been destroyed . We cannot allow further damage to our resources ,”he said.

The Sri Lankan authorities have given positive signal to allow the use of accepted fishing gear such as country boats .

The fisheries issue is a long standing irritant to bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and India.  Devananda said this issue would be discussed further when President Ranil Wickremesinghe visits New Delhi soon.