The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 12 fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district on December 23, 2025. They were caught for poaching in international waters. Their trawler was impounded by the Navy. According to Fisheries department officials, the fishermen were fishing between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar waters when a Sri Lankan surveillance team apprehended them. They were taken to a Naval port in Sri Lanka with their boat. On December 22, about 450 tokens were issued to fishermen from Rameswaram jetty. The impounded trawler belongs to Jothibas of Manthoppu, Thangachimadam. The boat is reportedly not registered with authorities, although the fishermen had a token. The arrested fishermen include Prabhat (28), James Heiton (29), and Antony (32). The fishermen expressed concern over their livelihood and appealed to the State and Union governments to secure their release. Fishermen’s associations plan to meet on Tuesday to discuss the next steps.