Protection of Indian Fishermen and their boats by coast guard

RAJYA SABHA

Indian fishermen are generally apprehended by foreign navies when they have been engaged in fishing inside their territorial waters. As per records in Navy, 35 Indian fishing boats with 200 fishermen have been apprehended by Pakistani Navy and 31 fishing boats with 123 fishermen have been apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy this year. Indian Coast Guard aircraft and ships carry regular patrols to prevent Indian fishing boats crossing the International Maritime Boundary Lines and also conduct ‘Community Interaction Programme’ to inform the fishermen on the perils of cross border fishing.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri D Raja in Rajya Sabha today.