While the problems with Sri Lankan fishermen and that nation’s Navy have drawn much attention, the skirmishes between Tamil Nadu fishermen and their brethren in Andhra Pradesh often go unnoticed. The 61-day fishing ban is intended to ensure that the fish population gets a chance to rebound. For fishermen, it’s sabbath time a period not just of rest and recreation but also a time to repair their boats, buy new ones, and obtain new fishing nets and other gear. When the ban ends, Tamil Nadu fishermen get back to the sea with renewed vigour, hoping to strike it rich in the blue waters. So do their neighbours Andhra fishermen. Every year, after the mid-year fishing ban is lifted, fishermen from Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts complain about their boats getting captured by fishermen in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. This year alone, after the end of the fishing ban, at least 80 fishing boats from in and around Chennai have been captured in Andhra Pradesh and fined. The most recent incident was when seven boats from Kasimedu were caught and the owners were made to pay up for releasing the boats, nets and the men. While the conflict between Tamil Nadu fishermen and Sri Lankan Navy over fishing rights have captured much attention, similar conflicts continue to simmer within the nation and within the State, too. Inside the exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles into the sea, Indian fishermen have exclusive rights to fish. In the interest of protecting the environment and the fish population, States can regulate the type of fishing activity along the coast up to 12 nautical miles into the sea. Among fishermen, informal understanding and unwritten laws mark out territories and govern who can fish where. The problem, however, is that it is tough to mark one’s territory in the vast waters of the Bay of Bengal without sophisticated GPS devices, and fishermen are naturally drawn to where the fish are. The result: Conflicts. Neighbours and rivals Pushpam, whose boat was one of the several boats released on Tuesday, said a gang of 20 – 25 men wielding sticks and stones boarded his boat midnight, and they had no other go but to surrender to their demands. We were beyond 60 paagam (much beyond 12 nautical miles) and couldn’t even see their village. But the reason they gave was that we had cut their nets off, he complained. Andhra fishermen bring farm labourers, paying them Rs. 500 and provide them food and drink. These men board our boats, he said. M. Vijesh of the Kasimedu Traditional Crafts Association, said, We know where their nets are and do not venture into those areas. Our fishermen do not venture into their 12 nautical mile limit. It is fishermen from Karaikal and beyond who dare to enter their territorial waters and our fishermen get caught there since our boats are slower. Every time boats get captured, the owners are made to cough up hefty amounts. This time, owners paid around Rs. 60,000 per boat, claimed M.D. Dayalan, Indian Fishermen’s Association. The fishermen either decide the matter amongst themselves or if there are more number of boats involved, department officials too enter the talks and try and get the boats out. Most labourers on boats from Kasimedu are from Andhra Pradesh. Yet, when fishermen discuss the issue the labourers are not allowed to speak out in their defense. The issue is not new. A former Fisheries Department official, who had been involved in the talks several times, recalled that there have been times when fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been beaten up and have had to be hospitalised. Way back in 1999 it was decided that joint patrolling would be done in the Andhra waters by officials of the two States. In case of engine trouble or distress, crafts from Tamil Nadu were asked to raise a white flag. Once a month, the fishermen’s associations were asked to meet to sort out damage claims made by fishermen from that State. But all that seems to have stopped now, he said. Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar recalled that even as early as 1991 there were instances of fishermen from Tamil Nadu being held along with their boats. We have a solatium fund from which money is released from time to time if crafts or nets are damaged. Our request is that the fishermen of that State should not take law and order into their hands but bring the incident to the notice of the fisheries department so that we can sort it out officially. If there is proof that our fishermen were in the wrong, we will take action. We will soon hold talks at the senior officials level to bring about a solution, he said. Officials of the two States must discuss the matter in detail. We need a long-term solution, said Nanjil Ravi of Akila Indhiya Meenavar Sangam. Eco-friendly fishing Officials say the use of ecologically damaging and banned equipment is what creates conflict as they lead to depletion of catch. Sources in the Fisheries Department said that they were trying to educate fishermen through NGOs and women self-help groups about the need to fish without using banned nets and high-speed engines. We are also asking local officials and District Collectors to ensure that these banned items are not used by fishermen, the official said. The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation’s Fish For All Research and Training Centre at Poompuhar has been telling fishermen about the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. The Code stresses on the need for sustainable fisheries where fishing grounds are not over-exploited and trawling is not done so that the sea bottom is not churned and reefs are not damaged. It also talks about keeping the sea pollution-free. S. Velvizhi, principal scientist at the Centre, said that depletion of fish catch was a major reason for fishermen to venture into other areas. We have exploited the fish up to a depth of 50 metres. If we need more fish, we need to go deep sea and for that training is a must since the fishermen need to know how to handle long liners, she explained. But such efforts are quite small considering the large number of fishermen. To be able to fish safely in Indian waters is what fishermen want. Everyone notices when our fishermen are beaten up by the Sri Lankan Navy, but no one bothers when fishermen of Andhra beat us, Mr. Ravi added. Andhra fishermen pay labourers Rs. 500 and provide them food and drink. These men board our boats Pushpam Boat owner If we need more fish, we need to go deep into the sea and for that, training is a must S. Velvizhi, Scientist