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| Sunday, 8 January 2006 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Net shortage
hits fishing industry
Sri Lanka's fishing industry is hit by a shortage of nets and the same is true internationally, since the Asian tsunami of December 2004, fisheries consultant for the FAO, Leslie Joseph said. A large part of the island's fishing fleet such as traditional craft, FPR - Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic and beach seine craft have been replaced and even oversupplied, according to a FAO survey, just out. But, the NGOs had not supplied the complete fishing gear, sometimes, a fourth of the gear needed, for a fishing boat, Joseph said. Sri Lanka has six fishnet manufacturers, Cey-Nor Foundation, Ltd, with three producing units in Lunuwila in the Puttalam district, Weerawila, in the Hambantota district and in Jaffna, Malba in Ja-ela, Jafferjee Brothers, in Colombo, Nets N Sea in the Mirigama EPZ and Sadasara in Chilaw. Most of these net manufacturers have exported nets. Most manufacturers were not aware of a shortage of nets. Currently, Sri Lanka imports nets from the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, China, Thailand and India. Cey-Nor's general manager, K. D. Liyanage said that notwithstanding that Sri Lanka exports fishnets, even before the tsunami, the island produced 65 percent of its requirements. Cey-Nor's assistant supplies manager, Senaka Perera said that net imports were needed because the local manufacturers did not turn out all net sizes needed, especially smaller sizes. Fishnet imports carry a duty of 15 percent, and raw material, 10 percent, giving importers an edge over local manufacturers, Perera said.(EL) |
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