Decoded: Kachchatheevu: Its Significance for Sri Lanka's Fisheries

Kachchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India. Its economic value comes from the fishing grounds that belong to Sri Lanka, by mutual agreement between both countries. These waters support a large share of Sri Lanka’s fishing economy.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries’ latest statistics for 2024, the four districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu in the Northern Province

i. Accounted for 52,500 marine fishing households - ~28% of the national total ii. Accounted for 58,080 active fishers – ~26% of the national total

iii. Produced ~70,900 metric tonnes of fish - 23% of Sri Lanka’s total marine catch of 308,430 metric tonnes

iii. Supplied 61% of the country’s wild-caught shrimp and 74% of its crabs, high-value products for both local and export markets.

India has ruled out any intention of reopening its agreements with Sri Lanka around Kachchatheevu and maritime fishing rights. This provides legal certainty over the fishing grounds around Kachchatheevu. The economic benefit to northern fishing communities, however, will depend on how effectively illegal trawling in Sri Lankan waters is controlled.

More than 1,000 Indian trawlers, mainly from Tamil Nadu, cross the maritime boundary into the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, engaging in illegal fishing. Many use the bottom trawling method, which is banned in both countries. Northern fishers report reduced catches and depleted fish stocks as a result, which affects both their current incomes and future catches.

Refer the news article we decoded here: https://www.newswire.lk/2026/10/07/katchatheevu-belongs-to-sri-lanka-india-rules-out-reopening-agreements/