Maritime Boundary & Fishermen Arrests in Palk Strait

பாக் நீரிணையில் கடல் எல்லை மற்றும் மீனவர்கள் கைது

This dossier details the legal framework of the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka and the recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, highlighting the complex historical, legal, and socio-economic dimensions of the issue.

This dossier compiles primary legal agreements and governmental records alongside news reports concerning the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka, specifically focusing on the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar. It evidences the official establishment of the boundary and the ongoing disputes arising from arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities. The 1974 and 1976 bilateral agreements (A-tier) conclusively define the maritime boundary, placing Katchatheevu within Sri Lankan territory. These treaties form the bedrock for all subsequent legal and diplomatic discussions. Indian parliamentary records (A-tier) consistently document the scale and frequency of arrests and detentions of Indian fishermen, providing authoritative figures for these incidents. Secondary sources (B-tier) corroborate these arrest figures and offer insights into the diplomatic responses and ongoing humanitarian concerns. Crucially, these citations also establish the ecological damage caused by bottom trawling practiced by some Indian fishermen and articulate the grievances of Northern Sri Lankan Tamil fishing communities, whose livelihoods are severely impacted. This reveals the issue as not merely an India-Sri Lanka interstate dispute but also an intra-Tamil conflict with significant environmental and economic implications for Northern Sri Lankan Tamils. Open questions include the long-term effectiveness of diplomatic remedies, the implementation of sustainable fishing practices, and the potential for a mutually agreeable framework that protects the livelihoods of all affected fishing communities while respecting sovereign boundaries and environmental integrity.

Citations