(UDHAYAM, RAMESWARAM) – Tamil Nadu fishermen have stoutly opposed a Fisheries Amendment Bill passed in Sri Lankan Parliament in Colombo on Thursday (06) that fines on foreign fishing vessels “breaching” into Sri Lanka’s territorial sea waters, which could range from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 20 crore per mechanised boat.
The ‘Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Bill’ adopted by the Sri Lankan Parliament on Thursday, will particularly hit Tamil Nadu and Puducherry fishermen very badly, the Deccan Chronicle reported.
Strongly condemning the new Bill, N. Devadoss, President of the Rameswaram Fishermen’s Association said that the Centre should immediately take up the issue with Sri Lanka to ensure that Tamil Nadu fishermen’s livelihood is not destroyed.