Communist Party press President on Indian bottom trawling

he Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take urgent diplomatic and regulatory measures to address the growing crisis facing fishermen in the Jaffna District, warning that illegal bottom trawling by Indian vessels is threatening livelihoods, marine ecosystems and national security.

In a letter addressed to the President last Friday, CPSL General Secretary G. Weerasinghe said the concerns were raised during discussions with fishing community leaders in Jaffna held in conjunction with the party's 83rd anniversary celebrations. The discussions were also attended by General Secretary of the Communist Party of India D. Raja, who visited Sri Lanka as the chief guest for the anniversary events.

Weerasinghe said fishermen had complained that large Indian high-powered bottom-trawling vessels were routinely entering Sri Lanka's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the northern seas and engaging in destructive fishing practices.

According to the letter, the narrow maritime area between the southern coast of India and the northern coast of Sri Lanka comprises the maritime zones of the two countries without an intervening international sea, while the absence of clearly demarcated boundaries and effective monitoring has enabled frequent incursions by Indian trawlers.

The CPSL said the large steel-hulled vessels, equipped with powerful engines and seabed-dragging nets, posed a serious challenge to Sri Lankan fishermen operating small wooden boats. Fishermen alleged that their fishing nets were frequently cut and destroyed by the larger vessels, leaving them unable to compete or safely approach the trawlers.

The party said the continued incursions had created insecurity among northern fishermen, forcing many to limit their fishing activities to selected days of the week.

The letter also warned that bottom trawling was causing severe damage to marine ecosystems by destroying seabed habitats and threatening the sustainability of future fish stocks.

Describing fisheries as the principal livelihood of many communities in the Northern Province, the CPSL said the illegal fishing activities had placed thousands of families under severe economic pressure. It further alleged that the movement of unregulated vessels had facilitated the smuggling of narcotics and other illicit goods into Sri Lanka, creating broader social and security concerns.

The party noted that many of the vessels involved were reportedly owned by large business interests based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

To address the issue, the Communist Party proposed that Sri Lanka and India establish legally binding agreements to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, particularly destructive bottom trawling in northern waters.

The party also urged both governments to initiate transparent bilateral dialogue based on the 1995 Food and Agriculture Organization Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, to which more than 170 countries are signatories.

Among its other proposals were ensuring the participation of fishing communities from both countries in bilateral discussions, establishing continuous monitoring mechanisms to enforce any agreements reached, seeking technical assistance from relevant international organizations to protect marine resources, and introducing satellite-based vessel monitoring systems for fishing fleets operating in both countries.

Weerasinghe told the President that the Communist Party stood ready to assist efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the long-standing fisheries dispute and protecting the livelihoods of northern fishing communities.