Mega fishing development project for North

by Rohana JAYALAL

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Ministry in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force on Resettlement, Infrastructure Development and Security arrangements in Northern Province under the Uthuru Wasanthaya accelerated Development programme has invested Rs. 870 million to stabilise the fishing industry in the North. The Fishing sector in the Northern province hampered due to terrorism during the past three decades will be given a new lease of life after the completion of the redevelopment project, said Minister Felix Perera. The redevelopment project is expected to be completed within 180 days.

In addition the Ministry has also planned to implement a two year mega development project in the North, the Minister added.

Boats, fishing gear and other important equipment will be provided to fishermen after resettlement. Nearly 3.7 million fingerlings would also be released to the tanks and reservoirs in the settlement areas, the Minister assured.

The estimated cost of the two year development program is around Rs. 1,170 million which would be funded through foreign aid as well as supplementary budgetary provisions.

After 1983 the fishing industry in the North had collapsed due to the LTTE terrorism. The fishing harvest decreased to 2,300 metric tons until last year. It was during 1983 that the biggest harvest of 48,000 metric tons was reported from the Northern part of the country, the Minister observed.