Minister accused of lifting ban on trawler fishing in Jaffna for political gain

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 July 2009, 20:37 GMT]
Fisheries societies in Jaffna accused Minister Douglas Devananda for lifting the ban on trawler fishing in the peninsula seas for his political gain. Meanwhile, incidents of Sinhalese trawler fishermen, now allowed to fish in the peninsula seas, attacking local fishermen and damaging their fishing boats and equipments have increased in the last few days, fisheries societies sources in Jaffna said.

The ban on trawler fishing in Jaffna peninsula was imposed after a long struggle by local fishermen who complained that trawler fishing along the coasts of the peninsula and in the deep sea damaged and destroyed the fish resources. Similarly, local fishermen had fought hard against Indian trawler fishing in the peninsula sea.

Meanwhile, clashes between the Sinhalese trawler fishermen from the South and local fishermen have broken out for the second day Tuesday in the seas of Vadamaraadchi north, the sources said.

Sinhalese fishermen have attacked local fishermen in Point Pedro Munai area Tuesday damaging their boats and fishing equipments, they added.