A mechanised fishing boat from Tamil Nadu was seized by authorities in Nellore district on April 8, 2026, with seven fishermen arrested for allegedly poaching in Andhra Pradesh waters near Krishnapatnam Port. The Nellore District Special Task Force acted on complaints from local fishermen about repeated incursions by high-powered TN vessels damaging nets and depleting stocks in traditional zones like Indukurpeta and Chennayapalem. This incident reignites a decade-long maritime border dispute, with the boat impounded at a local harbour pending legal proceedings.

The arrests follow protests by AP fishermen across 160+ coastal villages, who seized four TN and Puducherry boats last month only for them to mysteriously vanish overnight from Juvvaladinne harbour. Locals accuse TN crews of using faster steel boats to venture deeper during peak March-June seasons, harming ring-net operators and marine life like turtles. Andhra officials have urged Tamil Nadu for joint patrols, but tensions persist amid political accusations.

Andhra Pradesh Fisheries Department logged multiple complaints, highlighting non-functional patrol boats—now bolstered by two new high-speed vessels sanctioned for Nellore. Chief Minister's office directed stricter monitoring after viral videos showed assaults on intruders. The seven detained fishers face charges under fisheries laws, with calls for diplomatic intervention to demarcate the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

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This flare-up echoes past clashes: 2023 stone-pelting in Isukapallipalem, 2021 detention of 100+ fishers, and 2018 scuffles near Kavali. AP blames mechanised overfishing; TN counters with livelihood claims. Both states' unions demand central arbitration to protect 162 villages' incomes.

Environmental groups flag destructive practices killing rare species, urging sustainable quotas. Andhra protests TN boat releases without fines, while locals tie up and assault intruders in viral clips, prompting police probes.As summer fishing peaks around Pulicat Lake, resolution hinges on bilateral talks. The seizure underscores livelihood clashes in shared waters, testing federal harmony amid economic pressures on small-scale operators.

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