Over 2500 Tamil Nadu fishermen were forced to return without their catch after Sri Lankan Navy personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 50 mechanised boats off Katchatheevu, Press Trust of India said.

"The fishermen from Rameswaram had put out to sea in 583 mechanised boats yesterday and were fishing near Katchatheevu, when the naval men rounded up 50 boats and snapped the fishing nets and asked all the fishermen to return," Rameswaram Fishermen Association President P Sesuraja said.

They also warned them against fishing near Katchatheevu, following which all of them returned to the shores early this morning, he said.

Sesuraja also urged the Centre to take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu, ceded to Sri Lanka, so that fishermen could fish in their traditional areas.

On December 10, more than 2500 fishermen from this island town were allegedly chased away by the Lankan Navy for fishing off Katchatheevu.