A section of Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen has urged the Northern Provincial Council to allow them to use trawlers, citing the damage caused by Indian trawlers.

A group of fishermen from Valvettithurai, on the north-eastern coast of the Jaffna peninsula, met Northern Province Fisheries Minister B. Deniswaran recently and told him that unless they were allowed to use trawlers, they would not be able to stay in business.

Sri Lanka has banned 18 fishing practices, including bottom trawling. “Though the fishermen say they will not engage in bottom trawling, we cannot allow the use of trawlers as they pose a threat to marine resources,” Mr. Deniswaran told The Hindu on Saturday.

Furthermore, only a small number of fishermen sought permission, he pointed out. “Most fishermen of the northern province use small, day boats.”