Fishing Conflict in Indo-Sri Lankan Waters

Fishermen die in conflicts but communities show encouraging signs of equitable and joint management.

The deaths of Indian fishermen in late January, believed to be caused by Sri Lankan Navy personnel in waters close to the maritime boundary between the two countries, have led to a measure of bilateral discord and, more important, evoked strong feelings in Tamil Nadu. Two fishermen died in late January, one was strangled and another had been shot dead. While the number of violent incidents involving fishers has come down considerably since a 2008 agreement between the two countries that called on the governments to handle situations involving a breach of the international maritime boundary in non-lethal ways, the occurrence of such incidents makes it a live political issue in Tamil Nadu.

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