14-Oct-2017: India acts against bottom trawling

During the recently held meeting of the Joint Working Group, India informed Sri Lanka that it has taken measures to stop bottom trawling by its fishermen in the waters near the Sri Lankan coastline.

Bottom trawling by Indian fishermen had emerged as a major issue because of the disruptive impact it left on the coastal communities of Sri Lanka. Earlier in July, Sri Lanka banned bottom trawling, increasing the chances of interception of more Indian bottom trawlers.

The launch of a programme on diversification of bottom trawlers into deep-sea fishing vessels for tuna long lining under the Blue Revolution Scheme. Construction of Mookaiyur and Poompuhar fishing harbours, and capacity-building programmes for fishermen of the Palk Bay area in deep sea tuna long lining. Fresh registration for bottom trawlers in the Palk Bay area has been banned by the Government of Tamil Nadu.

7-Jul-2017: Sri Lanka bans bottom-trawling

Sri Lanka banned the destructive fishing practice of bottom-trawling in their waters, making violators liable for a fine of LKR 50,000 (approximately ₹20,000) and face two years imprisonment. The development could directly impact a section of fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who engage in bottom-trawling and have often been found trespassing into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

Following a debate in Sri Lankan Parliament, an Amendment to the country’s Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act was passed unanimously, in effect declaring the fishing method an offence.

Ever since Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009, fishermen of Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority north have been trying to return to the sea. For decades, they had been denied access to it by the armed forces and the LTTE.

However, just as they began rebuilding their lives with very limited resources and huge loans, they confronted the challenge of bottom-trawlers, originating from Tamil Nadu and trespassing into their waters.

After several rounds of failed negotiations between fishermen of both countries, the governments on their part made a shift — the Indian side began advocating alternatives such as deep sea fishing, while Sri Lanka adopted stringent measures, including retaining the seized trawlers for longer times.

While the Sri Lankan Navy has arrested over 2,500 Indian fishermen since 2010 for trespassing, the number began falling in 2016 and 2017. This year, 190 Indian fishermen were arrested of whom 67 remain in Sri Lankan prisons. About 150 Indian trawlers confiscated remain in Sri Lankan custody.

The Amendment comes as a huge relief to the northern fishing community, who are among the key drivers of the war-battered economy.

4-Jul-2017: Sundarbans mangrove depletes alarmingly

Remote sensing and GIS-enabled data offer definite proof for the first time that the mangrove forest cover in the Sunderbans has been depleting alarmingly. From 1986 to 2012, 124.418 sq. km., or about 5.5% of the mangrove cover, was lost. Variable degrees of erosion was observed in at least 18 islands. The continuation of this process is a serious ecological threat, say experts.

Noted islands experiencing erosion include Sagar, Gosaba, Dulibhasani, Dalhousie, Bhangaduni and Jambudwip.

In the western part of sunderban delta, there is less fresh water flow and sediment supply. This has led to the starvation of sediment. Besides, the rate of sea level rise is higher than sediment supply. This has led to the erosion of Islands.

A critical minimal inflow of freshwater is necessary for the luxuriant growth of mangroves. When freshwater inflow is missing, there is a change in mangrove succession, and freshwater loving species of mangroves are replaced by salt-water loving ones. The immediate impact of salinity will be on the fishing community, where commercially sought after fish species will be replaced by fish that does not have as much market value.

Sundarbans cover approximately 10,000 square kilometres of which 60% is in Bangladesh with the remainder in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.