Yet again, a group of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu—this time 13 fishers—was arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 27 for encroaching into Sri Lankan territorial waters during the night. They were apprehended off the coast of Velvettithurai on the Jaffna Peninsula.
Following reports in the Indian media that the Sri Lankan Navy had fired on an Indian fishing vessel, a flurry of official exchanges between the two countries ensued, with the Indian Government lodging a strong protest over the incident. India expressed grave concern for the safety of its fishermen operating in Sri Lankan waters and called for a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the episode.
Not isolated incident

Minister Ramalingam Chandrasegar
However, Indian fishing vessels operating in Sri Lankan waters in violation of the International Maritime Boundary Law are far from being an isolated incident. Indian trawlers routinely breach Sri Lanka’s territorial waters to engage in illegal fishing, with them being apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy becoming a regular occurrence.
The incident, as expected, stirred public sentiment in both countries. In India, there were protests and strong reaction from fishermen’s Associations calling for greater protection of Indian fishermen. In Sri Lanka, there was a sense of frustration over the continued encroachment of Indian trawlers which have been a long-standing issue affecting local fish stocks.
Hundreds of Indian trawlers illegally breach Sri Lankan waters at least thrice a week to harvest fish—a practice that has been ongoing since the 1970s. Just 20 hours before the latest incident, 34 Indian fishermen were detained off the Northeastern coast of Mannar, with three trawlers seized. Earlier, on January 12, eight Indian fishermen were arrested, and two more trawlers impounded. In 2024 alone, Sri Lanka’s Navy has already apprehended 529 Indian fishermen for poaching.
Two weeks ago, 41 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy were repatriated. Illegal fishing undermines national and regional efforts to conserve fish stocks. Indian trawlers often use bottom trawling—a practice banned in Sri Lanka and India—which threatens marine biodiversity and food security of communities dependent on fisheries.
Over 1,000 Indian trawlers mainly from Tamil Nadu – Ramanathapuram, Puthukodai, Nagapatnam and Karaikal – cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar and fish in Sri Lankan waters.
Illegal fishing undermines national and regional efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks. Indian trawlers hauling away massive stocks of fish from Sri Lankan waters, using bottom trawling, a banned fishing gear in Sri Lanka and India, is threatening marine biodiversity, food security for communities who rely on fisheries resources for their livelihoods.
More than 50,000 families in the coastal districts of Jaffna, Mannar and Mullaitivu in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province depend directly on fishing for their livelihood. However, the incursion of Indian fishing vessels has had a devastating impact on these communities, depleting fish stocks and causing significant environmental damage. Bottom trawling, a destructive practice wreaks havoc on marine habitats and undermines the livelihoods of local fishermen, posing long-term threats to biodiversity and the sustainability of Sri Lanka’s fisheries.
Local fishermen, typically relying on small boats with eight-horsepower engines, find it increasingly difficult to compete with the powerful Indian trawlers, which measure 34 to 36 feet in length and are equipped with 90 to 120-horsepower engines. These large vessels often overturn smaller boats and destroy fishing nets, further compounding the hardships faced by coastal communities. According to the Fisheries Ministry, illegal fishing operations intensify during peak fishing seasons, exacerbating the strain on already vulnerable livelihoods.
If bottom trawling continues unchecked, it could result in long-term decline in marine biodiversity, making it increasingly difficult to restore the fish depletion and repair damaged ecosystems. Fishermen in the Northern Province are already grappling with reduced catches, economic hardship, and the depletion of fish stocks, much of which they attribute to the influx of hundreds of Indian trawlers using banned fishing gear in Sri Lankan waters.
In an interview with us last week, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasegar addressed the dire situation faced by local fishing communities due to poaching by Indian vessels engaged in bottom trawling. He said that decades of overfishing and illegal fishing by thousands of large-scale Indian trawlers, between 36 to 38 feet in length, have depleted vital fish resources that rightfully belong to Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen.
“These trawlers are taking most of our fish back to India,” he said. “The local fishermen are asking me to either stop these boats from entering our waters or push them back into the sea.”
Fishermen from the Northern regions of Sri Lanka, particularly in areas such as Jaffna and Mannar rely on local fish stocks for their livelihood. However, Indian trawlers have been regularly encroaching into Sri Lankan waters, depleting the fish and damaging the seabed, which has led to a decline in fish catches for local fishermen.
This issue has been a source of tension between Sri Lanka and India, with Sri Lankan fishermen protesting against the illegal fishing activities, as it affects their income and the long-term sustainability of marine resources in the region. The Sri Lankan authorities have occasionally attempted to address the issue by confiscating trawlers or increasing patrols, but the problem remains a persistent challenge.
Struggles of local fishermen
Describing the struggles of local fishermen, the Minister added, “These small-scale fishermen just cannot compete with these massive trawlers. They use small boats to fish and it’s as if their livelihoods are being stolen right before their very eyes.” He said, “If you visit the Northern coast, you will see the line-up of these trawlers, systematically taking away the fish that in reality belongs to our people.” The plight of these fishermen is a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger enforcement and cooperative solutions to protect Sri Lanka’s marine resources.
At least 34 to 36-foot Indian trawlers, equipped with powerful 90 to 120 horsepower engines, regularly operate illegally in Sri Lankan waters off the coast of Jaffna. The number of these trawlers increases during peak fishing seasons. In stark contrast, local fishermen in Jaffna rely on small boats with just eight horsepower engines, leaving them unable to compete with the heavily equipped trawlers. Fisheries Ministry sources report that these large trawlers have occasionally toppled smaller boats and even cut through the fishing nets laid by local fishermen, causing significant damage to their livelihoods.
In response to recent media reports about the incident on January 27 where an Indian vessel claimed that the Sri Lankan Navy had opened fire, we asked the Fisheries Minister for clarification. He denied the reports, and said that no such shooting incident had occurred. Instead, he said that the Indian fishermen aboard the vessel had failed to comply with Navy instructions and had acted confrontationally when the Navy attempted to intercept the boat in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
According to reports, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated that the Sri Lankan Navy had opened fire on an Indian fishing vessel during an interception, resulting in “serious injuries” to two fishermen and “minor injuries” to three others. However, the Fisheries Minister refuted these claims, asserting that none of the fishermen suffered serious injuries, and that the Navy did not open fire on the vessel.
He said that the so-called “targeted vessel” was not the only Indian boat in Sri Lankan waters at the time. In fact, there were several other multi-day fishing boats, heading from the Kankesanthurai coast to Velvettithurai, also navigating through Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Minister said that the situation had been misrepresented and added that the ongoing challenge of illegal fishing activities in the region.
As it was dark, the Sri Lankan Navy, upon observing a fleet of Indian fishing vessels that had trespassed the maritime boundary noticed that they were heading towards the waters off Velvettithurai. The Navy flashed lights to signal the approaching vessels, warning them to move away from the restricted area. All vessels turned back except one, the vessel that later became the focus of media reports, alleging that the Navy had opened fire.
Since the encroaching vessel did not respond to warnings and it continued to approach further into the territorial waters, the Navy intercepted that vessel and signalled its crew to stop. Not a single shot was fired, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda said. The Navy is there to ensure security of Sri Lankans at and from the seas, he said.
“But how were the five crew members of the Indian vessel injured?” we queried.
“It happened after two Naval officers boarded the vessel. They went to the pilot house of that boat so as to stop it and conduct an inspection. The Indians on the vessel turned unruly and they surrounded the two officers and were trying to overpower them. They tried to snatch the firearm from an officer, endangering their lives. The firearm had accidentally discharged during this incident injuring two of them. The preliminary inquiry carried out into the incident revealed that the Indian fishermen on the vessel have become confrontational. They had hurled hot water, bottles and oil at the Naval officers.
Thereafter the Navy teams boarded the vessel to enforce compliance according to international laws and conventions, identifying it as a threat. The Navy operates within the confines of international maritime law, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes territorial waters, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and the rights of states to control access to these areas.
Following the incident, the Navy provided initial first aid to the two injured fishermen and promptly transferred them to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further treatment. The hospital confirmed that their condition is stable.
There were no serious injuries other than the regular injuries. The Navy has lodged a complaint with the Kankesanthurai Police regarding the incident. The arrested fishermen were remanded.
When the Navy encounters illegal fishing in its territorial waters, it generally follows a process of monitoring the violation, issuing warnings, boarding and inspecting the vessel, seizing illegal catch or equipment, detaining the vessel, if necessary and then referring the matter to legal or diplomatic authorities for further action.
The goal is to enforce the law, protect marine resources and maintain order in international waters while adhering to international legal frameworks.
In this case, the Navy minimised unnecessary conflict and adhered to international laws. The Navy said the vessel was operating in the EEZ of Sri Lanka.
Since the encroaching vessel did not respond to warnings and it continued to approach further into the territorial waters, the Navy intercepted the vessel and signalled the crew to stop. No shots were fired, said Navy Commander Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda. The Navy ensures the security of Sri Lanka at and from the seas.
Following the incident, the Navy provided initial first aid to the two injured fishermen and promptly transferred them to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further treatment. A spokesman for the hospital said that their condition is stable. Meanwhile, the Navy has lodged a complaint with the Kankesanthurai Police regarding the incident.
The seized Indian fishing boat and the fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai harbour the following morning and were over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal action.
The Navy minimised unnecessary conflict and adhered to international laws. The Navy said the vessel was in the EEZ of Sri Lanka and had collected a large haul of fish from Sri Lankan waters.
IUU fishing
The issue of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Sri Lankan waters by foreign vessels, particularly those from India, has been a persistent problem, especially in the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka and India have recognised the importance of addressing IUU fishing through diplomatic dialogue, enforcement cooperation and sustainable fisheries management. Although there has been some progress in these areas, ongoing collaboration is essential to overcome the challenges. The shared objective is to ensure the sustainability of marine resources, protect the livelihoods of local fishing communities, and foster peaceful cooperation between the two nations over maritime issues.
One of the humanitarian aspects of the diplomatic efforts has been the regular release of detained fishermen. Sri Lankan authorities have arrested Indian fishermen who enter Sri Lankan waters illegally, and vice versa. The Governments have agreed on measures to ensure the safe release of detained fishermen, often with the involvement of local diplomatic representatives.
In addition to enforcement measures, there is cooperation in search and rescue operations. If fishermen from either country are stranded or face emergencies at sea, both countries work together to provide assistance and ensure the safety of those involved.
Both countries have also engaged with international organisations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other regional bodies to promote regional cooperation in managing shared fish stocks and preventing IUU fishing. This helps create a broader framework for cooperation beyond bilateral efforts.
Regional Fisheries Management Organisations: Sri Lanka and India work through regional fisheries management organisations (such as the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission), where they collaborate on regulating fishing activities to prevent overfishing and ensure sustainable use of shared marine resources.
Both Governments have held multiple rounds of high-level talks to address the issue of illegal fishing, especially in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, which are shared maritime zones. These talks often involve the Ministry of Fisheries and other relevant bodies from both countries.
Sri Lanka has raised the issue through diplomatic channels, often sending formal protests to India about the violation of its territorial waters. India, in response, has acknowledged the problem and discussed measures to prevent illegal fishing.
The two countries have set up joint working groups and bilateral committees to improve cooperation between their respective fisheries ministries and other relevant agencies. These groups focus on issues such as enforcement of maritime boundaries, sustainable fishing practices, and the safety of fishermen.