Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 47 Indian Fishermen For Poaching, Seizes Five Boats
The fishing grounds in Palk Bay have been a source of dispute between India and Sri Lanka for years now. Image courtesy: Pixabay
In yet another flare-up over fishing rights in the Palk Bay, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 47 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in two separate incidents this week, alleging that they had poached in Sri Lankan territorial waters. Officials confirmed that five fishing boats were seized during the operations.
According to the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, 339 boats from Thangachimadam, Rameswaram, and nearby areas were issued tokens from the Rameswaram jetty on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) morning.
Later that night, around 8 pm, Sri Lankan naval patrols intercepted and detained 30 fishermen, impounding four boats and their catch. The detained fishermen were taken to a naval base in Sri Lanka for further investigation.
How has the fishing community reacted?
Fishermen leaders in Rameswaram expressed strong resentment over the incident. “This is a question of survival and livelihood for our fishers. The governments cannot remain silent spectators,” said Jesu Raja, a fishermen representative, urging the Union government to secure the immediate release of the arrested fishermen.
Another leader, Sagayam, highlighted the community’s distress, noting that the arrests came just ahead of the Deepavali festival, a period of high emotional and economic significance for coastal families.
Did Sri Lanka arrest more fishermen?
In a second incident early Thursday (October 9, 2025), 17 fishermen from Karaikal were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy while operating near Neduntheevu (Delft Island).
Their mechanised boat was also confiscated. Officials from the Karaikal Fisheries Department stated that the fishermen had departed from the Karaikal harbour before being intercepted.
Coastal Security Group sources confirmed that among those arrested, four hailed from Nagapattinam, two from Mayiladuthurai, and the remaining from Karaikal district.
What’s the current situation on the fishermen’s issue?
The repeated arrests of Indian fishermen have remained a long-standing diplomatic and humanitarian concern, with India and Sri Lanka holding periodic talks to address the Palk Bay fishing dispute.
However, with each new detention, tensions resurface, underscoring the urgent need for a permanent, livelihood-sensitive solution between the two neighbours.
