Lok Sabha Question No. 74 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Arrested Indian Fishermen
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M., Shri Raja A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. 74

ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## ARRESTED INDIAN FISHERMEN

## *74. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.

## SHRI RAJA A

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether 182 Indian fishermen have been arrested and 25 trawlers seized by Sri Lankan Navy and have been attacked by sea pirates during 2024, if so, the details thereof;

(b)   the   total   number   of   Indian   fishermen   killed,   arrested/released   in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, States- UT wise during the last three years and current year;

(c) whether despite many representations by the Government of Tamil Nadu and others the issue of release of Indian fishermen has not been resolved;

(d) whether the External Affairs Minister during his last visit to Sri Lanka on 20.06.2024 has raised this issue with his counterpart and Joint

Working Group of  Fisheries, if  so,  the details thereof  indicating the number of fishermen still detained/ facing court proceedings there; and (e) whether any payment of compensation to fishermen whose boats where seized/damaged has been/is being considered, if so, the details thereof  alongwith the measures taken by the Government to release/ resolve the issue?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question   No.*74   for   reply   on   26.07.2024   regarding   'Arrested   Indian Fishermen'.

(a) to (e) Indian fishermen are arrested from time to time by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line   (IMBL)   and   fishing   in   Sri   Lankan   waters.   As   per   available information, 260 Indian fishermen and 37 Indian fishing vessels were apprehended this year by the Sri Lankan authorities until 22 July, 2024. However, there were no reported instances of attacks by sea pirates on Indian fishermen in Indian waters in 2024.

The details of fishermen in the last three years and the current year are as follows:

## Sri Lanka:

|   Year | Number of Indian Fishermen arrested            | Number of Indian Fishermen Released                                      | Number of Indian Fishermen killed/died   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|   2024 | 269(TN-251, PUDUCHERRY - 14, ODISSA - 2, AP-2) | 195(183 from 2024 and 12 from 2023) (TN-160, PUDUCHERRY - 33, ODISSA-02) | 0                                        |
|   2023 | 240(TN-220, PUDUCHERRY - 20)                   | 243 (16 from 2022 and 227 from 2023) (TN-236, PUDUCHERRY - 7)            | 0                                        |
|   2022 | 268(TN-229, PUDUCHERRY - 39)                   | 320(68 from 2021 and 252 from 2022) (TN-285, PUDUCHERRY - 35)            | 0                                        |
|   2021 | 159(TN-143,                                    | 131 (40 from 2020 and 91                                                 | 3 fishermen from                         |

| PUDUCHERRY - 16)   | from 2021) (TN-117, PUDUCHERRY - 14)   | Tamil Nadu died as their boat capsized.   |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|

## Bangladesh:

| Year             | Number of fishermen arrested   |   Number of fishermen released | Number of Indian Fishermen killed/died   |
|------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 2021             | 54 (West Bengal)               |                             54 | Nil                                      |
| 2022             | 184 (West Bengal)              |                            184 | Nil                                      |
| 2023             | 04 (West Bengal)               |                             04 | Nil                                      |
| 2024 (till date) | 0                              |                              0 | Nil                                      |

## Pakistan:

|   Year | No. of fishermen arrested                                                  | No. of fishermen released                                                                        | Number of Indian Fishermen killed/died   |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
|   2021 | 223 (Gujarat-199; Bihar-2; UP-5; Daman & Diu-10; Maharashtra-6; Kerala-1.) | 20 (Gujarat)                                                                                     | Nil                                      |
|   2022 | 132 (Gujarat - 85; Daman & Diu - 20; UP - 14; Maharashtra - 12 and WB-1)   | 40 (Gujarat)                                                                                     | Nil                                      |
|   2023 | 9 (Gujarat)                                                                | 478 (Gujarat - 436; Andhra Pradesh - 3; Daman & Diu - 19; Maharastra - 11; UP - 6 and Bihar - 3) | Nil                                      |

| 2024 (till date)   | 19 (Tamilnadu - 7; WB - 6; Odisa - 1; Consular Access to the remaining five (5) fishermen arrested in March 2024 is awaited.)   | Nil   | Nil   |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|

Government of India attaches highest priority to the safety, security and welfare   of   Indian   fishermen.   Government   has   been   taking   up   the fishermen issue at the highest level, including by the Prime Minister in his   meeting   with   his   Sri   Lankan   counterparts   and   recently   by   the External Affairs Minister during his visit to Sri Lanka on 20 June 2024. The Sri Lankan government has been urged to treat the fishermen issue as a humanitarian and livelihood concern, and it has been stressed that both   sides   should   ensure   that   there   is   no   use   of   force   under   any circumstances.

The last meeting of the Joint Working Group on fisheries was held in 2022. The Joint Working Group discusses all relevant fisheries issues in detail   including   the   concerns   related   to   fishermen   and   their   fishing boats. After EAM's visit in June 2024, there are ongoing efforts to hold the   JWG   at   an   early   date,   subject   to   mutual   convenience   of   both Governments.

*****