Tamil Nadu Steps In After 7 Fishing Boats Detained by Andhra Pradesh Fishermen

The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has announced measures to secure the release of seven fishing boats from Chennai that were detained by local fishermen in Andhra Pradesh. The detention stems from ongoing tensions over marine resources in the coastal waters shared by the two states.

According to a press release from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, approximately 200 fishing boats operating from the Chennai Fishing Harbour regularly fish along the Andhra Pradesh coast. Additionally, fishermen from the Union Territory of Puducherry also fish in these waters. Local fishermen in Andhra Pradesh have expressed concerns over depleting marine resources, leading to the detention of Chennai boats that were operating within the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters under Andhra Pradesh's jurisdiction. The seven detained boats are currently stationed at the Juvvaladinne fishing harbour in Andhra Pradesh.

In response, the Tamil Nadu government has expedited efforts to convene a District Level Committee meeting with officials from both states to find an amicable solution. Several rounds of consultative meetings have already been held with representatives of the Chennai Fishing Boat Owners' Associations at the Chennai District Collector level, as well as under the leadership of the Tamil Nadu Minister for Fisheries and Minister for Finance.

The Fisheries Department dispatched officials to Andhra Pradesh to demand the immediate release of the detained boats and to ensure that Tamil Nadu fishermen can continue fishing smoothly in Andhra waters. A bilateral meeting between the two states was held in Nellore on July 11, where a formal request was made for the release of the boats and permission for customary fishing activities in Andhra coastal waters.

The situation highlights the need for cooperative management of shared marine resources to prevent conflicts between fishing communities from neighbouring states.