Context

• India’s foreign policy has long been shaped by principles of peaceful coexistence and regional cooperation.
• From the Panchsheel framework to the Non-Aligned Movement and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), India has consistently emphasised interdependence and stability in South Asia.
• Bilateral relations with Sri Lanka continue to be tested by unresolved concerns, particularly the fisheries crisis in the Palk Strait and the sovereignty of Katchatheevu island.
• Addressing these challenges demands a careful balance of livelihoods, ecological sustainability, and legal commitments.

The Fisheries Dispute: Livelihoods and Conservation at Odds

• The Issue at Hand
  • Fishing communities in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka’s Northern Province have shared the Palk Strait for centuries.
  • However, today’s disputes stem largely from Indian mechanised bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters.
  • Such practices, though profitable for trawler operators, are ecologically destructive, damaging coral beds and depleting fish stocks.
  • Both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the FAO’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries condemn destructive methods such as bottom trawling.
• Sri Lanka’s Concern
  • Sri Lanka banned bottom trawling in 2017, but hundreds of Indian trawlers continue to cross the maritime boundary.
  • This not only harms Sri Lanka’s marine ecology but also jeopardises the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu’s small-scale artisanal fishers.
  • Ironically, these traditional fishers, who follow sustainable methods, also suffer from resource depletion caused by trawler operations, compelling them to enter contested waters.
  • Thus, the issue is not merely interstate; it reflects a deeper livelihood conflict within Tamil fishing communities themselves.

The Katchatheevu Question: Myths and Realities

• Public debate in India often portrays Katchatheevu, a small barren islet in the Palk Strait, as the crux of the fisheries conflict.
• In reality, the 1974 India–Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Treaty, which placed the islet within Sri Lankan territory, settled the issue.
• Under international law, boundary treaties are sacrosanct (pacta sunt servanda) and cannot be unilaterally repudiated.
• Contrary to popular belief, the island was not gifted by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
• Historical records demonstrated Sri Lanka’s stronger claim, with evidence of administrative control dating back to the Portuguese and Dutch periods, and earlier to the Tamil kings of Jaffna.
• International precedents, such as the ICJ’s 1953 ruling in the Minquiers and Ecrehos case (France vs United Kingdom), reinforce that sovereignty rests on effective jurisdiction rather than rhetoric.
• India’s concession was therefore consistent with legal precedent and international norms.
• It is important to distinguish between sovereignty over Katchatheevu and fishing rights.
• While the former is legally settled, the latter remains a matter of negotiation.
• The Palk Strait has historically been recognised as historic waters where sovereign rights are stronger than in normal territorial seas.
• Joint management under UNCLOS provisions, particularly Article 123 on semi-enclosed seas, is both necessary and legally mandated.

Models for Cooperation

• The Baltic Sea Fisheries Convention demonstrates how neighbouring states can share quotas to conserve marine resources.
• India and Sri Lanka could adopt similar frameworks by:
  • Establishing equitable quotas for fishing days and catch.
  • Creating a joint marine research station on Katchatheevu to monitor ecological health.
  • Encouraging deep-sea fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone to reduce pressure on near-shore waters.
• These measures would simultaneously protect livelihoods, conserve resources, and strengthen bilateral trust.

The Way Forward

• Toward a Good Neighbourhood Policy
  • India’s regional leadership rests not only on geography but also on shared cultural and civilisational bonds.
  • With Sri Lanka, these ties are particularly deep.
  • To preserve them, disputes must be insulated from populist rhetoric and addressed through quiet diplomacy, legal recognition, and livelihood security.
  • Solutions require multiple layers: government-to-government negotiations to maintain treaty obligations, state- and provincial-level engagement to address local concerns, and people-to-people dialogue to counter misinformation.
• Community Sensitisation and Mutual Empathy
  • Resolving the fisheries dispute also requires social understanding.
  • Sri Lankan Tamil families in the Northern Province, many of whom suffered economic loss during the decades-long civil war, should not be portrayed as adversaries.
  • Rather, they are fellow victims of historical hardship. Sri Lankan Tamil politicians and media can play an important role in sensitising Tamil Nadu about these realities.
  • This approach would revive the bonds of fraternity that once enabled Tamil Nadu to receive Sri Lankan Tamil refugees with compassion.

Conclusion

• The fisheries crisis and the Katchatheevu issue call for pragmatic solutions rooted in law, sustainability, and compassion.
• By distinguishing between legitimate subsistence needs and unsustainable practices, developing community empathy, and embracing cooperative frameworks, both nations can turn points of contention into opportunities for deeper partnership.
• In doing so, India reaffirms its commitment to a Neighbourhood First Policy that balances regional leadership with shared prosperity.