Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether a number of fishermen who sneaked into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka unintentionally, were arrested and detained with their boats, during the last three years and current year;
(b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
(c) the steps taken by Government to release them with their boats;
(d) whether Government has taken up the issue of safety of Indian fishermen with Government of Sri Lanka; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) & (b) There have been reports of apprehension of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan authorities on charges of fishing related violations. According to information available, in 2009, 127 fishermen along with 32 boats were apprehended, in 2010, 34 Indian fishermen and 4 boats were apprehended and in 2011, 164 Indian fishermen and 31 boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. Further, as of 19 March 2012, 107 Indian fishermen and 20 boats were apprehended. All fishermen along with their boats were subsequently released by the Sri Lankan authorities. As per current information, there are no Indian fishermen or boats in Sri Lankan custody on charges of fishing related violations.

(c) Upon receipt of information relating to the apprehension of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities, Government has, through diplomatic channels, immediately taken up the matter with the Government of Sri Lanka seeking the early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen along with their boats. In almost all cases, the Government of Sri Lanka has responded favourably and released the apprehended fishermen and their boats at the earliest.
(d) & (e) Government attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. The issue has been consistently taken up with the Sri Lanka authorities, including at the meeting of the Prime Minister with the President of Sri Lanka on the sidelines of SAARC Summit in November 2011 and during the visit of the External Affairs Minister to Sri Lanka in January 2012.
Keeping in mind the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of the fishermen’s issue, Government had reached an understanding through a Joint Statement with the Sri Lankan Government on 26 October 2008 to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. As part of these arrangements, it was agreed that there would be no firing on Indian fishing vessels and Indian fishing vessels would not tread into sensitive areas designated by the Government of Sri Lanka along its coastline.

The 4th meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries was held from 13-14 January 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In the Joint Press Release issued on 15 January 2012, both sides reiterated the highest priority accorded by their respective Governments to the well being, safety and security of fishermen from the two countries. Both countries agreed that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances, and reiterated in this regard the importance of extending humane treatment to all fishermen. Acknowledging that fisheries involved the socio-economic and livelihood dimensions of the fishermen living in coastal areas in India and Sri Lanka, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation that would allow both countries to pursue their fishing activity in a safe, secure and sustainable manner, including discouraging fishermen from using destructive fishing methods. They also discussed measures for the expeditious release of bonafide fishermen from both countries.

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