Despite frequent exchanges of fishermen in prisons on both sides of the border, a number of fishermen from India and Pakistan languish in each other’s jails. — Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan has detained 31 Indian fishermen and seized their 14 boats for fishing in its territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, the maritime security agency said Sunday.

The fishermen were held by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) during routine patrolling Saturday, it said in a statement.

Some 14 Indian fishing boats along with 31 crew members were “apprehended for poaching well inside Pakistani waters (approximately 110 nautical miles),” it said.

“Indian fishermen continue to intrude in Pakistan's marine rich Indus delta region containing high quality fish, at the cost of livelihood of local fishermen resulting in depletion of our fish stock and ecological damage to rare fish species,” it said.

The agency handed over the fishermen to police for further investigation, the statement said.

Pakistan and India frequently seize each other's fishermen, accusing them of violating their respective zones in the Arabian Sea.

Earlier this month Pakistan freed 179 Indian fishermen who were imprisoned for violating territorial waters and had completed their sentences while 360 other Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, remain in jail.