Fisheries ; IMBL ; Katchatheevu ; UPSC GS-II
1) Why in the News
Tension over fishing rights between India and Sri Lanka rose again in 2024–2025, with arrests of fishers, boat seizures, and political debate on Katchatheevu and boundary lines. The issue mixes livelihoods, ecology, and diplomacy in a very narrow sea.
- Frequent detentions (2024–2025): Indian crews held near the International Maritime Boundary Line; periodic releases after talks.
- Resource stress: Declining near-shore fish stocks push boats closer to the boundary.
- Ecology concern: Bottom trawling damages seabed, corals, and juvenile fish.
- Public pressure: Coastal families, state governments, and both national capitals seek a durable solution.
Palk Strait
2) What Exactly Is the Dispute
At the core is where boats may fish and how they fish. India and Sri Lanka delimited the maritime boundary in 1974–1976, but traditional fishing grounds straddle today’s line.
- Boundary vs tradition: Modern charts separate waters; communities recall customary access across the strait.
- Methods clash: Sri Lanka bans bottom trawling; many Indian mechanised boats still use it, drawing protests.
- Katchatheevu debate: A small uninhabited islet close to Sri Lanka; Indian fishers view the surrounding waters as traditional.
- Safety & rights: Fishers fear collision, arrest, and loss of gear, while Sri Lanka cites sovereignty and conservation.
Box — Key Rules & Platforms
| 1974/76 boundary agreements | Set the maritime line separating jurisdictions. |
|---|---|
| International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) | Operational line used for enforcement at sea. |
| Joint Working Group | Re-activated in 2016 to discuss fisheries, releases, and gear norms. |
| State schemes | Deep-sea conversion, trawler buyback, and alternative livelihood grants in Tamil Nadu. |
3) Recent Developments & Stakes (2024–2025)
Talks continued alongside seasonal arrests and releases. Both sides accept that ecology + livelihoods must guide the outcome.
- Enforcement uptick: Sri Lanka stepped up action against trawling inside its waters; India sought quick consular access and early repatriation.
- Pilot efforts: Trials of gill-nets, traps, and hook-and-line to shift away from trawling; more deep-sea tuna trips.
- Community voice: Fisher leaders pressed for fishing calendars, shared zones, and gear transition support.
- Wider risks: Smuggling (e.g., sea cucumbers) and gear conflicts hurt local trust and conservation.
4) A Practical Way Forward (12–24 months)
A practical, step-by-step package can cool tempers, protect the sea, and keep fisher incomes steady: phase out bottom trawling with buy-backs and retrofits, subsidise selective gear, create joint fishing windows, mark no-go zones, provide price support, credit, and quick-release protocols.
- Time-bound transition: Gradually phase out bottom trawling on the Indian side by buying back old equipment and retrofitting it with improved technology, while subsidising the cost of new, selective fishing gear..
- Joint science, joint patrols: Monthly stock surveys, shared catch data, and non-violent, coordinated patrolling to prevent escalation.
- Calendered access windows: Explore seasonal, daytime-only fishing corridors near the line, monitored by transponders and logbooks.
- Livelihood cushion: Expand deep-sea training, ice-plants, cold-chain, and credit for crew; insure nets and engines.
- Hotline & fast-track release: A 24×7 maritime hotline, standard forms, and 72-hour review for routine detention cases.
- People-to-people pacts: Fisher-to-fisher meets, gear-swap demos, and youth skilling on both coasts.
One-line Wrap: Protect the seabed, respect the line, and protect incomes—science, not anger, should steer the strait.
Prelims Practice
Q1. With reference to the Palk Strait, consider the following:
- It separates India and Sri Lanka and is shallow with rich fisheries.
- Bottom trawling there increases juvenile bycatch and seabed damage.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q2. Which of the following is/are appropriate elements of a near-term de-escalation plan?
- Buyback and conversion of trawlers to selective gear
- Night-time, untracked fishing across the boundary to reduce crowding
- A maritime hotline and 72-hour review for routine detentions
Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
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