India–Sri Lanka Relations: Fisheries & Katchatheevu Issues – The Hindu Short Notes

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Context

  • India’s foreign policy promotes peace through:
    • Panchsheel principles
    • Non-Aligned Movement
    • SAARC
    • Neighbourhood First policy
  • However, disputes with Sri Lanka persist:
    • Fisheries crisis in the Palk Straits
    • Sovereignty of Katchatheevu island

Fisheries Issue

  • Fishing communities in Tamil Nadu & Northern Sri Lanka share Palk Straits.
  • Conflict worsened by Indian mechanised trawlers damaging ecosystems.
  • UNCLOS & FAO Guidelines:
    • Promote equitable use and conservation.
    • Discourage destructive methods like bottom trawling.
  • Sri Lanka banned trawling (2017), but it continues.
  • Traditional fishers also suffer from depleted near-shore resources.
  • It’s both a livelihood conflict and a conservation challenge.
  • Need to distinguish between:
    • Artisanal fishers → need protection
    • Trawler operators → focus on profit, harm resources

Proposed Solutions

  • Dialogue between fisher organisations.
  • Regulated access, quotas, limited fishing days.
  • Community sensitisation:
    • Tamil media & MPs highlight shared hardships.
    • Promote empathy, not blame.
  • Historical support during Sri Lankan civil war → preserve goodwill.

Katchatheevu Issue

  • Tiny uninhabited islet (½ sq mile); contains St. Anthony’s church.
  • 1974 India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Treaty granted it to Sri Lanka.
  • Treaties are legally binding; cannot be repudiated unilaterally.
  • Sovereignty disputes are political rhetoric, not legal concerns.
  • Fishing rights are separate from sovereignty.
  • Historic waters recognised under law → cooperation encouraged.
  • International precedents (Minquiers & Ecrehos, Rann of Kutch Arbitration).

Way Forward

  • Implement joint resource management (like Baltic Sea Fisheries Convention).
  • Equitable quotas, joint marine research, deep-sea fishing promotion.
  • Government & State level coordination:
    • Involve Tamil Nadu & Northern Provincial Council.
    • Encourage people-to-people empathy.
  • Focus on fairness, sustainability, and long-term cooperation.
  • Avoid populist politics; preserve peace and cultural ties.
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