Provide incentives for fishermen to develop industry

The price of fish in the open market keep on increasing. People who are engaged in the fishing industry say that the high production cost is the main reason for the price hike.

When the Sunday Observer visited several fishing communities to interview fishermen on this issue, a fisherman with many at Elakanda in Wattala, Antony Fernando said the fuel price hike and the high cost of fishing gear has badly affected the industry.

He said President Rajapaksa, who was at one time the Minister of Fisheries knows the grievances of the fishing community than anybody else.

“I wish the Government would look into the pathetic living conditions of fishing community and grant a subsidy on diesel to all persons, engaged in the industry”.

Asilin Hewage of Kalido Beach, Kalutara wanted the Fisheries Department to establish fishermen’s societies at every village where the fishing communities live.

“So that, members of these societies could forward their day-to-day problems directly to the Department. There is no other way to put forward the grievances of fishermen to the Government”.

Forty six year old, Jothi Sahabdeen of Negombo Fishermen’s Society requested the Government to grant incentives to members of all fishermen’s societies through the Department of Fisheries every year. He said the Maldivian Government grants such incentives to all registered fishermen in order to encourage them and develop the industry.

Eighty-one-year-old fisherman, John Samarappuli of Beruwala said he was engaged in the industry for over sixty years and now he is in a very feeble condition due to his old age and ill-health.

He requested the authorities to look into the pathetic lives of elderly fishermen and grant them at least Rs. 3000 as a monthly pension in recognition to the service they rendered.

“I think elderly fishermen like us would be really satisfied, if the Government grant us a pension, so that we could spend it for food and medicine in our final days”.

Rev. Father Christopher de Almeida of Kurana, Negombo said that people and their families who are engaged in the fishing industry in his village very often complain to him about the high cost of fishing equipment.

He said the country’s fishing industry will not last long without State patronage and requested the authorities to have regular discussions with fishermen to get a clear understanding of their problems.

Dharmasiri Rajapaksa of Elakanda fishermen’s village invited State authorities, especially those who are in the Department of Fisheries to visit his village and speak to fishermen about their needs.

“The members of our society have lot of problems to reveal, but unfortunately no one is coming to listen to our grievances, other than from newspapers”.

He said he had told the media about their problems a number of times, but no positive response had been so far received.

Forty year old, K. Balakrisnan of Epitawella Fishermen’s Society, Kalutara requested the Co-operative Department to establish

co-operative shops in fishermen’s villages to distribute fishing gear at reasonable prices.

“Such shops will help to protect fishermen from blackmarketeers who earn lavishly from poor fishermen”. He also wanted the authorities to set up co-operative banks to enable fisherman to obtain loans to develop the industry.

Fisherman, Kristan Trek of Wattala said that fishermen and their families in his village face immense hardships due to the lack of infrastructure facilities such as medical centres and water supply projects.

“I urge authorities to set up at least one medical centre including a maternity home in our village at Palliyawatta, Wattala for the benefit of about sixty families, engaged in the industry.

W.D. Hamilton of Palliyawatta, Wattala said that fishing cannot be done properly in his village due to numerous obstacles from the Police and the Army.

He said the Police have permitted them to engage in the industry only for a few hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. due to security reasons.

“Therefore, we request the Government to permit us to engage in fishing from 4.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fisherman with long experience Nishantha Perera wanted the Fisheries Department to initiate a new program to sell their daily catch at reasonable prices and also to start a lorry service to deliver fish to workers at State institutions.

He said some State sector institutions such as the Fisheries and the Agrarian Services departments have already started such fish distribution programs.

“If the Government starts such a program we will be protected from private fish traders”.

Saji Karunamuni of Clement fisher village wanted the authorities to issue diesel ration cards to all fishermen and provide them with fuel at reasonable prices.

“Otherwise the industry will not last long”.

Seventy two year old, S.A. Dissanayaka of Palliyawatta spoke against the authorities for cutting down their `Samaurdi’ mentioning that they were in a sound financial position.

“The Gramaseva Niladari recently visited our village and stopped granting Samurdi allowance to a large number of families who own television sets and many other electrical equipment”.

He therefore, requested the Government not to withdraw the Samurdi allowance of poor people on the grounds that they have television sets.

Siripala Zoysa of Koralawella beach proposed the Government to appoint Government officials to look into the grievances of fisher families.

“When we were sent to Indonesia to study latest fishing techniques during the time of President Ranasinghe Premadasa, we were informed that one government official was deployed to look into the problems of 100 fishermens families.

Secretary of the Alutgama Fishermen’s Association, Piyal Gunawansa requested the Fisheries Minister to visit countrywide fishermen’s villages very often and look into the needs of their families.

He said he can remember a former Fisheries Minister Festus Perera was in the habit of visiting their villages once in every two months to look into their needs.

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Pix: Vipula Amarasinghe