BY Dinitha RathnayakeA high-level meeting between the regional Naval Commanders of Sri Lanka and India is to be held today (29) focusing on trespassing Indian fishermen engaging in the destructive practice of bottom trawling and on joint efforts undertaken by the two Navies. The Sri Lankan delegation will be led by Northern Naval Commander Priyantha Perera while the Indian Navy delegation will be led by a Naval Commander in Chennai. The SLN has arrested at least 54 Indian fishermen and seized five trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country’s territorial waters recently. The two vessels had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters about 62 nautical miles, crossing the IMBL when the apprehension was made. Bottom trawling carried out by Indian fishermen in mechanised trawlers is classified as an Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) method by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Source: The Nation September 28, 2021 17:48 UTC