Tamil fishermen in Jaffna staged a protest on 27 February, demanding urgent action to prevent Indian trawlers from encroaching into their fishing waters.
The demonstration, organised by fisheries organisations from various islands, including Mandaithivu, Nedunthivu, Nainathivu, Eluvaithivu, Velanai, and Punguduthivu, highlighted the ongoing crisis faced by local fishermen due to large-scale illegal fishing operations from Tamil Nadu.
The protest began outside the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Jaffna’s Pannai area, before demonstrators marched towards the Indian Consulate and later the Northern Province Governor’s Office, calling for immediate intervention to protect their livelihoods.
During the demonstration, the fishermen submitted petitions to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Indian Consulate, and the Northern Province Governor’s Office, demanding concrete measures to curb illegal fishing and ensure the protection of Tamil fishermen’s rights in their traditional waters.
The issue of Indian trawlers engaging in bottom trawling in the Palk Strait remains a source of deep frustration for Eelam Tamil fishermen. At the same time, Tamil representatives have urged for diplomatic engagement with Tamil Nadu, emphasising the need for a sustainable resolution that protects both communities’ fishing rights while ending the exploitation of the North-East’s marine resources.
