July 18, 2011
Ambassador Rasgotra,

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner of Bangladesh Tariq Karim,

Distinguished Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. It is indeed a great pleasure to be in your midst this evening. At the outset, allow me to thank the Observer Research Foundation for taking this important initiative to conduct a Round Table Conference on a relevant and topical subject like fisheries. I wish to, in particular, thank Mr. Sathiya Moorthy for conceptualizing and preparing for this international conference.

2. I am also happy to see that the ORF has brought together experts and intellectuals from Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Europe and Australia, apart from academics, experts and officials from India. I extend a special welcome to those who have travelled from distant places to be here for this International Conference.

3. Many of us present this evening would undoubtedly have seen a recent issue of the Time Magazine on “The future of fish”. Unfortunately, the conclusions are not very encouraging. Overfishing has depleted as much as 90% of the large species such as tuna and marlin, while according to the United Nations, 32% of our global fish stocks are overexploited. The article refers to a recent report by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean that found that the world’s marine species faced threats “unprecedented in human history”, attributable mainly to overfishing. It is, therefore, both timely and relevant for an international conference such as ours to examine the issue of our dwindling fisheries resources, the problems associated with it and the solutions that can offer themselves.

4. I have no doubt that the eminent panelists and speakers at the conference will examine a number of situations in which competition for scarce fisheries resources and overlapping claims have had an impact on relations between States. It would be eminently useful if a thorough examination of the lessons learned and best practices from different parts of the world could form a part of the cornucopia of relevant material on the issue.

5. The conference has particularly relevance for India with its long and extended coastline of 7,500 kilometers. India shares a maritime boundary with several of its neighbours, including Pakistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. I note that many of the sessions of the conference will focus on fishing issues involving India and its neighbours, particularly Sri Lanka. I have no doubt that these will be very useful for all concerned.

6. India and Sri Lanka are consistently engaged in working out a practical solution to the issues involving their fishermen. As we all know, fishing is a major livelihood activity on both sides of the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka, particularly from the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the Northern Sri Lankan area. Both these areas are linked by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. For centuries, fishing communities from these areas have lived in harmony, maintaining cultural and matrimonial ties.

7. Given the close proximity between the two coastlines, and the depleting fisheries resources in the area, as also the livelihood issue involving fishermen on both sides, our two governments are giving special attention to the problems that have arisen concerning what is called the fishermen issue between the two countries.

8. When I visited Sri Lanka earlier this year to take up the issue of Indian fishermen apprehended in Sri Lankan waters, my Sri Lankan interlocutors emphasized that it was the consistent policy of their government to treat all fishermen crossing into Sri Lankan waters in a humane manner. They also conveyed that the wellbeing of the Indian fishing community was of the utmost concern to Sri Lanka and that the use of force could not be justified under any circumstances.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

9. India and Sri Lanka have always maintained the closest of neighbourly relations based on trust and friendship. In order to find a solution to this particular issue, both India and Sri Lanka are engaged in a dialogue at all levels aimed at addressing it comprehensively and working out a practical arrangement which would allow the fishing communities on both sides to coexist peacefully. In this regard, Fishermen’s Associations from both countries have a major role to play as they interact with each other, understand each others’ problems better and have the ability to come out with ideas to resolve the issue at hand. I wish to take this opportunity to welcome the representatives of fishermen to this conference. I have no doubt that they will be heard carefully.

10. There are always solutions to every issue. The issue of fisheries is definitely not a zero-sum game. A solution can never manifest itself if it comes at the cost of one or other party. I have no doubt that the Conference will help us in brainstorming on a subject which involves the livelihood of many of our people. We need to consider alternative methods of fishing, examine alternative livelihoods, identify different areas for fishing, explore joint management of resources and allow interim fishing arrangements for fishing communities to live in harmony and also in harmony with the delicate marine environment that surrounds them and from which they eke their livelihoods. .

11. Our situation is not unique in this regard. Many countries around the world regard fisheries resources as so called “common pool resources” since fish care nothing about political boundaries demarcated between countries. Fish migrate across political boundaries. The exploitation of fisheries resources in such a situation can only be managed effectively by cooperation between the States concerned. In the case of India and Sri Lanka, we need to understand the characteristics of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar. These are narrow stretches of waters between our two coastlines. Historically, this has been a traditional fishing area for both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen.

12. We also need a more scientific study of the fishery resources in the area and how to better conserve, manage and exploit transboundary stocks of fish. Furthermore, in the context of India and Sri Lanka, and their fishermen, we will have to pay special attention to small sized fishing boats, some of them not even motorized, let alone with GPS. Special measures have been put in place to deal with this category of fishing boats by countries like China and Vietnam in their traditional fishing grounds. We can study the experience of fellow Asian countries in this regard. For instance, some countries have set up common fishery zones. Are there lessons to be learnt from such experiences? Let us explore the answers available. For example in cases where there are fishing agreements, a Joint Fisheries Committee is also set up, which maintains the equilibrium and order in fishing activity between the two countries concerned. Cases where fishermen stray into territorial waters of the other country are dealt with efficiently, with the straying fishermen and their vessels released promptly on posting a bond or other form of security. There is also the practice of granting fishing licences for a permissible and stipulated number of vessels with contracting parties exchanging information on the number of vessels which have been granted such license or permits. China and Vietnam also, for instance, prohibit destructive fishing, like use of explosives. Bottom sea trawling also faces restrictions. Great importance should also be attached to maintaining the biodiversity of the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar areas.

13. Especially since we have a mutually agreed maritime boundary in these areas, we should be able to learn from international best practices on how to establish a fisheries management system between the two countries. For instance, three categories of waters are designed in the Sino-Vietnam agreement, namely the 15-year Common Fishery Zone, the 4-year Waters in Transitional Arrangements, and the Buffer Zone for Small-sized Fishing Boats. Are there lessons to be learnt from these examples? I hope the Conference will discuss these matters in greater depth. I have no doubt that you will impart intellectual objectivity to such discussions. Our aim should be to ensure a peaceful settlement of these issues and stability of existence of our fishing communities on both sides. This will involve some degree of political compromise. Reciprocal fishing access and cooperative management of shared fishery resources are other ideas that come from bilateral agreements entered into by other countries. Sustainable development is the key. All that I have spoken of can equally apply to our fisheries-related interaction with other maritime neighbours. Let me emphasize that I am merely providing some “bait” for a meaningful debate and discussion of such issues in the framework of the deliberations of this Conference! Nothing more, nothing less!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

14. Before I conclude, I wish to once again convey my gratitude to ORF and Ambassador Rasgotra for allowing me the privilege of speaking at the inaugural function of this Conference. I wish the organizers and participants all success in their deliberations.

Thank you

New Delhi
July 18, 2011