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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Lanka to
collaborate on IOR fisheries resources
by Elmo Leonard The countries in the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), including Sri Lanka agreed at a meeting in Oman, recently, to collaborate on issues pertaining to fisheries resources within the region. Sri Lanka is to present her comments on the draft proposals taken at the meeting, by June 30. At the conference, a fisheries support unit (FSU) representing all IOR-ARC countries - Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation was set up, conforming to the decision taken earlier in Colombo, director general of the Department of Fisheries A Hettiarachchi said. Oman agreed to fund the FSU for the first two years. The meeting was represented by 33 participants from 12 IOR members, Australia, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Oman, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, UAE and Yemen. Two dialogue partners, China and France and an observer from the Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation also participated. It was decided to get the patronage of nations not present, and identify focal points for all IOR nations. At the next meeting in Teheran, in August, major decisions will be taken on carrying out research, on the lucrative fisheries within the Indian Ocean. A separate group will be set up to look into aquaculture within the region. The fisheries scientists in the region had agreed to establish a working group on highly migratory species of fish, such as tuna, Bill fish and sharks, the first two of which are found in abundance within Sri Lanka's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). In Teheran, a Ministerial Council meeting will also take place, and governments will have to decide on by-laws, for the FSU. It was proposed for joint research on Spanish mackerel between Oman, Iran, UAE and Yemen leading to corporate management within the EEZs of these nations and up to Pakistani waters, where the species migratory route ends. Other member states including Sri Lanka will also be brought in for research on Spanish mackerel, which species is found in Sri Lankan waters and known as seer. Seer fish is a luxury here, and exported in large quantities. Dr Adel Al-Gindy, from Oman had suggested tuna fattening as a joint experimental project between Oman, Thailand and Malaysia. The economic benefits from tuna resources within the region are great. Tuna farming and aquaculture was discussed. However, much of this information is considered the intellectual property of private businesses within the region, Hettiarachchi said. Sri Lanka is a large exporter of tuna species with the tuna migratory paths running through the island's EEZ. |
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