Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Dec 23: At least 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel on Tuesday on charges of allegedly fishing in international waters, once again bringing the long-standing issue of fishermen’s safety and maritime boundaries in the Palk Strait into focus.

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department said the fishermen, all hailing from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district, were engaged in fishing between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar when they were intercepted by a Sri Lankan Navy surveillance team.

The fishermen were taken into custody along with their mechanised trawler and escorted to a Sri Lankan naval port, where legal proceedings are expected to follow. Sri Lankan authorities have accused them of crossing the maritime boundary and engaging in illegal fishing, a charge that Indian fishermen often contest due to the narrow and disputed nature of the fishing zone in the region.

The incident occurred a day after around 450 fishing tokens were issued to boats operating from the Rameswaram fishing jetty, pointing to heightened fishing activity ahead of the Christmas and New Year season.

Officials revealed that the seized trawler belonged to Jothibas, a fisherman from Manthoppu in Thangachimadam. While the vessel was reportedly not formally registered, it had been issued a fishing token, raising concerns over possible regulatory gaps.

Among those detained are Prabhat (28), James Heiton (29), and Antony (32), each described as the primary breadwinner for their families. Their arrest has sparked anxiety across fishing communities in Rameswaram and nearby coastal villages.

Local fishermen have voiced frustration over repeated detentions and the seizure of boats, stating that such incidents severely disrupt livelihoods. They have urged the Tamil Nadu and Union governments to step in diplomatically to secure the fishermen’s early release and the return of the confiscated vessel.

Fishermen’s associations in the region are expected to hold an emergency meeting later in the day to discuss the incident and consider further steps, including protests and renewed appeals for sustained government intervention.