Amaravati, March 22: Andhra Pradesh has expressed serious concerns regarding the encroachment of mechanized fishing boats from Tamil Nadu into its marine territory. The state government has raised this issue with officials in Tamil Nadu.
Rama Shankar Naik, the Fisheries Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh, has written a letter to the Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare in Tamil Nadu. The letter requests immediate intervention and stringent measures to prevent Tamil Nadu’s fishing boats from entering Andhra Pradesh’s marine area.
Officials have reported that unauthorized entry of Tamil Nadu’s mechanized fishing boats into Andhra Pradesh’s waters continues unabated, posing a direct threat to the livelihoods of local fishermen and undermining the existing regulatory framework.
The Fisheries Commissioner also highlighted that illegal fishing by these mechanized boats has raised serious concerns regarding law and order. He noted that similar letters requesting coordination meetings to address the issue of encroachment and illegal fishing were sent by Andhra Pradesh officials in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Naik drew attention to an incident that occurred on March 18 at the Juvvaladinne fishing harbor in SPSR Nellore district. In this incident, fishermen from Puducherry took four fishing boats that were in legal custody of the police. He stated that this act is a serious violation of law and order and undermines the authority of enforcement agencies.
The letter mentioned, “This incident has caused significant unrest among fishermen in 162 coastal villages across Tirupati, SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, and Bapatla districts. If not resolved promptly, inter-state tensions may escalate.”
Tamil Nadu officials were also informed that destructive fishing practices, particularly the ongoing use of trawling by Tamil Nadu vessels in Andhra Pradesh’s marine area, are causing significant ecological damage. Naik pointed out that these activities have led to an increase in the mortality of turtles and other endangered marine species, with carcasses frequently washing up on the shores of Andhra Pradesh.
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