The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappdi K Palaniswami, wrote to the Indian premier, Narenda Modi on Friday, expressing his concern about Sri Lanka's new fishing legislation which bans bottom trawling.
Describing the legislation, which was adopted on Thursday, as a “harsh step to undermine the diplomatic efforts”, Mr Palaniswami said it was “aimed at preventing our fishermen from exercising their traditional fishing rights in the fishing waters."
His letter is the latest in a long series of letters from chief ministers of Tamil Nadu to Delhi on the issue of fishing and the arrests of fishermen by Sri Lankan navy personnel.
"The new bill reportedly introduced and passed by the Parliament of Sri Lanka is another retrograde step taken by the Sri Lankan Government to destroy the already paralysed livelihood of lakhs of our fishermen," Mr Palaniswami said in his letter.
"It is widely reported in a section of media that under the provisions of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Bill, the fishing trawlers as well as fishing gear used for fishing in the Sri Lankan territorial waters will be confiscated, fishermen imprisoned for two years and huge fine upto 50,000 Lankan Rupees will be imposed."
“It would be fitting for the government of India to register its strongest disapproval of such move and must organise an effective defence of the rights of our fishermen in the Palk Bay."
