India and Sri lanka on Saturday held Ministerial level talks and agreed to find a permanent solution to the fishermen issues at the earliest. The Ministerial-level talks were attended by India's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Sri lankan Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera.
The talks were followed by the third meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on fisheries held in the national capital on Friday. The JWG was co-chaired by Secretary (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries), Government of India and Secretary (Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development), Government of Sri lanka.
"The Ministers agreed that a permanent solution to the fishermen issues should be found at the earliest. The Indian side was satisfied with the progress on release of apprehended fishermen and detained fishing vessels in the recent past, while reiterating the release of all the remaining Indian fishermen and fishing vessels in Sri lankan custody," read the joint statement.
Recent initiatives taken by the Indian Government to end bottom trawling in the Palk Bay Area were shared with the Sri lankan side. These include launching of a program on diversification of bottom trawlers into Deep Sea Fishing Vessels for tuna long lining under Blue Revolution Scheme, construction of Mookaiyur and Poompuhar fishing harbours, capacity building program for fishermen of Palk Bay Area in deep sea tuna long lining.
For nearly 35 years due to the Sri lankan civil wars the fishermen of India have been facing a lot of hardship. Fishermen's arrest and seizing of trawlers have become a common scenario between the two countries. At present 47 Indian fishermen and more than 140 boats are in Sri lankan custody.
According to the joint statement, besides, fresh registration for bottom trawlers in the Palk Bay area has been banned by the Tamil Nadu government. "In addition, alternative livelihood opportunities for the fishing communities in Palk Bay area are being offered through open sea cage farming, seaweed farming and other allied coastal fisheries activities," it read.
Officials said that while acknowledging the efforts taken by India to end bottom trawling, the Sri lankan side informed about the measures taken by Sri lanka in order to prevent illegal fishing.
Earlier, to sort out the fishermen issue and to direct them towards alternate fishing options, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said that the Indian government has allocated Rs 1500 crore to provide a solution to bottom trolling fishing and introducing alternative fishing options.