Even while condemning the attacks of the Sri Lankan navy on their counterparts from Tamil Nadu, Tamil fishermen from Jaffna, in Sri Lanka, have appealed to the Tamil fishermen to desist from using trawlers in Sri Lankan waters.
“The attacks on Tamil fishermen are condemnable. But the fishermen should also realise that by using trawlers, they eat into our livelihood,” says Thavaratnam, a Jaffna-based Tamil fisherman.
The Jaffna fishermen allege that trawling destroys marine life and depletes resources, and has been banned in Sri Lankan waters.
The fishermen say they do not have an issue with Tamil fishermen crossing the boundary. “It has always happened from the sixties. We have crossed the boundary and they have done so.
But our only problem is trawling,” says another fisherman, Suriya Kumaran.
Jaffna University professor and marine expert Soosai Anandan says the marine resources will be lost over the next decade if trawling continues.
“It concerns the livelihood of three lakh fishermen who have resumed fishing after three decades, and should be stopped,” he says.
While acknowledging that trawling poses a problem, Tamil Nadu fishermen leader Rayappan says it can be withdrawn only step-by-step.
“They have been used for years now and cannot be stopped suddenly. However, fishermen can still decide to stop using trawl nets. The decision would also benefit the Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen,” he concedes.
He also suggests that the state government should consider increasing the grant to promote deep sea fishing or give interest-free loan for fishermen to engage in deep sea fishing, which will be a solution to the problem. “With Rs 5 lakh that the government is planning to give as aid, nothing can be done,” Rayappan says.