Rameswaram

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested six fishermen on Thursday from the Palk Bay area and seized their boats.

The have been accused of poaching in the country's territorial waters.

According to Tamil Nadu Police the six fishermen were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing in the Palk Bay sea area. The island nation’s Navy came to the area and claimed that they were fishing across the border and arrested them.

The fishermen had gone for fishing on July 20 from Rameswaram port after obtaining permission from the Department of Fisheries.

On March 25 this year, the fifth meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries was held through virtual mode.

The Joint Working Group discussed all relevant issues in detail including the concerns relating to fishermen and fishing boats which have been on the agenda of bilateral discussions between India and Sri Lanka for many years.

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The Indian side expressed its readiness to work together with Sri Lanka for joint research to enhance the productivity of the Palk Bay fisheries.