PMSA seizes three boats and arrest 17 fishermen from Gujarat

One fishing boat from Porbandar and two fishing boats had left from Okha respectively on Thursday evening. The boats ‘Hindraj’, ‘Mandakini’ and ‘Marine King’ were sailing close to the IMB when the PMSA apprehended them.

This is the second incident after eight days. On April 2, the PMSA had seized three boats and arrested 18 fishermen off Jakhau coast.

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Manish Lodhari, Secretary of Marine Fisheries Co-operative Society and member of National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) said, “The boats have been seized from the IMB and fishermen have been taken to Karachi. With the beginning of summer and increasing heat, the level of water decreases and it is difficult for the fishermen to properly identify the boundary”.

The fishermen forum in Porbandar stated that the fishermen had not crossed the boundary. The boats were close to the boundary when at stationary position while some fishermen were catching fish when the PMSA officials came in their patrol boat and arrested the fishermen, the forum members added.

The Indian Coast Guard officials at Gandhinagar said that the fishermen groups claimed that the the fishermen have been abducted from the Indian waters however we are looking into this. The officials of the Coast Guard at Porbandar are reviewing the matter to see whether the fishermen crossed the IMB or not.

These seizures by PMSA have occurred hardly two weeks after Pakistan returned Indian boats in March as a goodwill gesture. 57 boats of Gujarat were brought to Porbandar on March 25 with the help of the Indian Coast Guard and Gujarat Fisheries Department.

However, On March 6, 48 Indian fishermen were arrested by the PMSA and seized eight boats of Gujarat. The fishermen belong to Porbandar and Veraval who are now lodged in Karachi jail.

In December last year, the PMSA had captured 58 fishermen and seized 11 of their boats near the International Maritime Boundary near Jakhau port.
In March last year, the PMSA has killed one fishermen and abducted 30 others from five boats off Jakhau coast.

Thereafter, on January 4, the PMSA had apprehended 12 Indian fishermen and seized their two boats near the International Maritime Boundary.