Seafood industry urges Govt. to curb illegal Indian trawler incursions

Friday, 5 June 2026 04:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka has called on the Government to take urgent action to prevent the anticipated resumption of illegal cross-border fishing by Tamil Nadu trawlers in Sri Lankan waters, warning that continued incursions threaten marine ecosystems, seafood stocks, export competitiveness, and the livelihoods of thousands of coastal fishing communities.

Issuing a statement, it said:

“The Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka and the broader Sri Lankan fishing community wish to express deep and urgent concern over the anticipated resumption of illegal cross-border fishing activities by Tamil Nadu trawlers in Sri Lankan territorial waters, expected to commence around 15 June.

“For years, these destructive incursions, particularly involving illegal bottom trawling, have caused severe and irreversible damage to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems, depleted critical seafood stocks, and gravely threatened the livelihoods of thousands of Sri Lankan fishermen and their families, especially in the Northern and North-Western coastal regions.

“The Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka hereby respectfully but firmly calls upon the President, the Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ministry, the Sri Lanka Navy, and all relevant Government authorities to take immediate, decisive, and enforceable action to prevent these illegal incursions and safeguard the nation’s sovereign marine resources before further irreparable harm is done.

“These destructive fishing methods do not merely damage fragile sea beds and marine habitats; they fundamentally undermine the sustainability of Sri Lanka’s fishing industry and directly compromise the country’s ability to supply quality seafood to global markets.

“At the same time, Sri Lankan seafood exporters continue to face mounting pressures in international markets, including existing US tariffs and the looming threat of an additional 12.5% tariff under Section 301 measures. The compounding effect of illegal fishing activities, rising operational costs, and escalating trade barriers places enormous and unsustainable strain on an industry that supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods and contributes vital foreign exchange earnings to the Sri Lankan economy.

“The Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka stresses that the protection of our national fisheries resources is not only a matter of economic urgency but also a prerequisite for maintaining international confidence in Sri Lanka’s seafood exports and preserving access to key global markets.”

“We urge the Government to treat this as a matter of the highest national priority and to act with the full force of law to defend Sri Lanka’s maritime boundaries. The industry remains fully committed to supporting sustainable fisheries management, responsible harvesting practices, and the long-term protection of Sri Lanka’s marine environment for the benefit of present and future generations,” Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka President Dilan Fernando said.