Lok Sabha Question No. 3701 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-17
Subject: Harassment of Indian Fishermen
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3701 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  MARCH, 2020

## Harassment of Indian Fishermen

## 3701.   PROF. SAUGAT RAY:

Will  the  Minister  of  FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन, पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  noticed  that  a  number  of  Indian  fishermen  are  facing  the harassments by the armed forces of Sri Lanka and Pakistan during fishing in deep seas;
- (b) if so, the steps taken to check such types of  harassments in future;
- (c) whether  the  Government  intervened  in  such  types  of  harassments  like  arrests  and imprisonment of fishermen; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)

(a)  to  (d).      Indian  fishermen  are  arrested  from  time  to  time  by  the  Sri  Lankan  authorities  for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. There have been some reports of attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy. These incidents were immediately taken up with Sri Lankan authorities. Government of India attaches the  highest  priority  to  the  safety,  security  and  welfare  of  Indian  fishermen.  Government  has taken  up  the  fishermen  issues  at  the  highest  level,  including  by  the  Prime  Minister  in  his meetings with his Sri Lankan counterparts. Sri Lankan Government has been requested to treat the fishermen issue as a purely humanitarian and livelihood concern, and it has been stressed that both sides should ensure that there is no use of force under any circumstances. As a result of sustained diplomatic efforts by the Government, 2130 Indian fishermen and 383 boats have been released by Sri Lanka Government since May 2014.

Government  also  regularly  takes  up  the  issue  of  release  and  repatriation  of  Indian fishermen along with their boats with the Pakistan authorities. Due to persistent efforts of the Government, 57 boats  were released and  repatriated  in  March  2015.  Later,  visit  of  a  team  of fishermen representatives, was organised to Karachi in March 2016 to assess the condition of 22 other  Indian  fishing  boats  in  Pakistan's  custody.  Due  to  diplomatic  initiative  taken  by  the Government  of  India,  20  Indian  fishermen  from  Andhra  Pradesh  were  released  by  Pakistan Government in January, 2020.

Indian Coast Guard has also taken steps to guide Indian fishermen not to cross-over the perceived International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) through various community interaction programmes for the fishing community. The Indian Coast Guard ships also shepherd the Indian fishing boats clear from the perceived IMBL to prevent their apprehension by Maritime Security Agencies  of  neighbouring  countries.  One  Indian  Coast  Guard  ship/aircraft  maintains  close surveillance at any given time along the India-Pakistan perceived IMBL.

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