Spain funds for tsunami fisheries relief

The Spanish Government has provided funding of US$ 521,799 for reduction of post-harvest losses in selected tsunami-affected areas for the fisheries sector.

The project 'Minimum standards for fish handling and reduced post-harvest losses in selected tsunami-affected communities' will be implemented over a period of 12 months commencing from June 2009 by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Fisheries, Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation (CFHC) while Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) provides operational and technical support.

Through the project, FAO intends to provide fish handling development support to some of the most seriously affected fishing and fish-trading families in the key harbours and landing sites of Hambantota, Batticaloa and Trincomalee Districts which were badly hit by the tsunami. Quality improvement of fish handling and the reduction of post harvest losses is one of the highest priorities in long term fisheries sector development of Sri Lanka as reflected in the 'Mahinda Chinthanaya'.

In accordance with this need, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources sought the assistance of the FAO, in the planning and implementation of activities aimed at minimizing post-harvest losses and maintaining the quality of fish in order to assure food safety, reduce the resource waste and to minimize the pressure on both coastal and offshore fishery resources.

In response to this request, FAO has formulated a project based on the Government's post-tsunami strategy and program for the reconstruction and development of the marine fisheries sector, which aims at 'building back better'.