Indian poachers cause fear among Jaffna fishermen

[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 August 2005, 16:48 GMT]
Vadamaradchchi Fishermen Societies' Federation Sunday complained that increasing number of Indian fishing trawlers is entering northern seas for poaching. Local fishermen Sunday early morning encountered more than one hundred Indian trawlers poaching in Point Pedro seas and had to return to the shores without fishing fearing confrontation, federation sources said.

Indian poaching in northern waters completely stopped after deadly tsunami waves hit the coastal areas in the Jaffna district destroying boats and fishing gear.

The re-entry of Indian poachers in the northern after tsunami is causing anxiety among local fishing population at a time when fishing industry is returning to normalcy, fisheries sources said.

International aid agencies and non-governmental organizations have been providing new boats and accessories to local fishermen facilitating many of the coastal families to resume fishing,