Rameswaram warns bottom trawlers their licences will be cancelled if they trespass into Lankan waters

It seems, finally Indian fisheries authorities are taking some initial steps to curb the ongoing illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s northern waters.

Early this week, in Tamil Nadu the Rameswaram Fisheries Department summoned the owners of about 800 bottom trawlers that go in an armada and warned them not to trespass into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.

They were told that if they were found to be venturing into Sri Lankan waters, their fishing licences would be cancelled until further notice.

The apparent stern step came in the wake of a recent incident where one

Indian fisherman died due to drowning last month after his trawler capsized when the Sri Lankan Navy tried to chase them away.

Hearing a petition filed by the wife of the victim, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court this week ordered a re- post- mortem to be conducted on the body of the fisherman. The post-mortem was conducted on November 18.

Meanwhile, the Point Pedro Magistrate has released the remaining 23 Indian fishermen who were in Sri Lankan custody and they are expected to be deported next week. Their fishing equipment and trawlers were declared as Sri Lankan state property.