Restrictions on fishing remain in Jaffna peninsula

[TamilNet, Monday, 22 June 2009, 11:51 GMT]
Despite government propaganda that fishermen in the North can engage in fishing 24 hours of the day freely, various restrictions imposed earlier continue to be in force, Fishermen Society sources in Jaffna expressed concern. Fishermen in Jaffna have to get the ‘fishing pass’ from their local Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp authorities every time they go fishing besides being subjected to checks by SLA soldiers at the jetties, they added.

SLA officials laid down several restrictions on fishing in the peninsula at a meeting held with the representatives of the Fisheries Societies in Point Pedro Sunday.

Some of the restrictions are as follow:

Though the fishermen are allowed out board motors on their boats the distance they can go fishing is limited to 20 km from the coast.

Fishermen engaging in fishing during nights should leave the shore before 6:00 p.m and can only return in the morning.

No one will be permitted to fish in within a km area near the SLA camps located along the shores.

Fishing in the seas of Kaangkeasanthu’rai West and East, besides Mayiliddi and Valveddiththurai, is forbidden.

SLA will not take any initiative if fishermen are arrested by Indian Navy for having entered the Indian seas.

Government’s much publicized propaganda that fishermen in the North are permitted to fish 24 hours a day has not really brought any meaningful benefits, the fisheries society representatives said.