The dispute concerns mechanised trawlers from northern Tamil Nadu entering Andhra Pradesh's territorial waters, including: traditional fishing zones reserved for small-scale fishers, areas around Pulicat Lake, nearshore fishing grounds off Nellore and Tirupati districts. Andhra Pradesh alleges that these larger boats fish illegally within its territorial waters and damage the livelihoods of its traditional fishing communities.
For over a decade, fishermen in coastal villages such as Juvvaladinne, Isakapallipalem, and Chennayapalem have raised concerns over systematic intrusion into Andhra waters. Equipped with high-speed mechanised boats, fishermen from neighbouring regions often venture into these waters during peak fishing seasons, particularly between March and June, when fish movement is high around Pulicat Lake and adjoining stretches.
The Coastal State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations are responsible for regulating fishing activities within Territorial Waters extending up to 12 nautical miles, as this subject falls under Entry 21 of the State List. Accordingly, the coastal States/UTs enforce their respective Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAs) to govern fishing within territorial waters. States/UTs have also designated exclusive zones for traditional fishers operating non‑motorized and motorized craft, where mechanized vessels are prohibited.
Parallel to state fisheries legislations, around 45 fishing villages depend on the Pulicat lake, lagoon and nearby marine waters for their livelihoods. Pulicat Lake is India's second-largest brackish water lagoon and straddles the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Historically, fishing communities on both sides developed customary institutions to regulate access to fishing grounds. One such institution is the Padu system, a traditional rotational system under which villages take turns fishing in designated areas. This system helped prevent overfishing and minimise conflict for generations.
Local fishermen, who largely depend on traditional methods and operate closer to shore, contend these incursions not only deplete fish stocks but also damage their nets, pushing already vulnerable communities into financial distress.
In March 2026, the Government of Andhra Pradesh had again reported occasional incidents of illegal fishing by mechanised vessels from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry within its territorial waters, including in traditional fishing zones and the Pulicat Lake area.
Four mechanised boats allegedly from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were seized by local fishermen and handed over for custody. However, the boats mysteriously disappeared overnight, reportedly after the detained crew escaped, raising serious questions over enforcement lapses and surveillance gaps.
Recognising the recurring nature of the dispute, the Union Government created Regional Fisheries Management Councils (RFMCs) in 2023 to provide a forum for resolving inter-state fisheries conflicts. Following concerns raised by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu established a joint district-level committee in 2024 involving officials from: Tiruvallur, Chennai and Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu), and Tirupati, Nellore and Prakasam (Andhra Pradesh).
However, this incident is part of a recurring pattern. Similar confrontations were reported in 2018, 2021, and 2023, often involving clashes, detentions, and protests. Despite periodic interventions, the absence of a robust, coordinated mechanism between states has allowed the issue to persist.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Demand for compensation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Coastal
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Fishing
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Fisheries and Aquaculture Laws, Fisheries and Aquaculture Laws, Other
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Fisheries Department; Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Government; Regional Fisheries Management Councils
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh Fishermen
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
