Fibre boats seized in Rameswaram; fishermen threaten stir from Monday
Fishermen in Rameswaram are threatening to protest if the Fisheries Department does not release seized fibre boats. Traditional fishermen have complained that these high-speed boats are poaching in restricted waters and violating regulations.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between traditional and modern fishing practices, which impact both local livelihoods and international maritime relations with Sri Lanka.
Demanding the Fisheries Department officials to immediately release the seized fibre boats, fishermen from Rameswaram announced that if the boats were not released in the next two days, they would resort to agitation from Monday.
Following complaints from traditional fishermen (using country boats and mechanised boats) that many of the high speed fibre boats crossed the IMBL and the Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested them for poaching. They demanded the Fisheries Department to refrain from issuing tokens and subsidised diesel to fishermen using fibre boats.
Despite repeated pleas to stop fibre boats from using the Palk Straits, when they ventured into the sea without tokens, the traditional fishermen complained about it. “From a meagre five fibre boats, the number had increased to over 50,” they charged. Hence, they urged the authorities to take stern action.
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