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| Sunday, 1 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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by Elmo Leonard The Negombo lagoon, covering 3,164 hectares where over 3,000 fishermen are engaged in their livelihood is heavily silted, endangering its continuity. Plans are finalised for dredging the lagoon, which will begin in a few months and the work will be handed over to the private sector, director of Coast Conservation, Dr. R. A.D.B. Samaranayake said. The accumulation of silt has even restricted the movement of traditional fishing craft within the channels of the lagoon, confining fishing activity. The amassed silt highly confines space, for the propagation of the natural fish species. It also cuts out the natural movement of water in and out of the lagoon, with the looming danger of disease breaking out within the fish species which live here, besides the danger of flooding, Dr. Senanayake said. According to an ecological survey under the wetland coast conservation project, carried out by the government of the Netherlands, the annual value of the lagoon has been estimated at $3 million, dating 1992. But, the potential value of the Negombo canal could be much higher considering the presence of few companies engaged in processing and airlifting shrimp, crabs and lobsters found here, some of which is exported live, at premium prices to highly developed foreign markets by way of the airport, nearby. A rollicking sale of small fish, live crabs and shrimp, green grass (algae) and other living species, takes place at the lagoon, much of which finds its way to urban markets, including Colombo. The Dandugama Oya (river) and the Muthurajawela mash, of 3,068 hectares are connected to the basin type lagoon, bringing with it disposed garbage, including biologically inert `siri-siri' bags. The dumping of waste oil from multiday boats poses another grave environmental hazard, Dr. Samaranayake said. The Negombo lagoon will be demarcated to prevent reclamation, which limits the extend of the lagoon and leads of pollution. The assistance of all government, non-government and social groups has been harnessed. The cutting down of mangroves in the area results from poverty and when it is prohibited, shortly, alternative forms of livelihood will be introduced, Dr. Samaranayake said. The cleaning of the Negombo lagoon is part of a coastal resources management project, funded by the government of the Netherlands, under Asian Development Bank, costing $12.5 million. |
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