Higher fish production targeted

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The Fisheries Ministry targets a 10 percent increase in fish production during the current year, a Ministry spokesman said.

He said Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne met all stake holders of the industry after visiting important fishing villages and towns in the island. He has instructed officials to expedite the construction work of Geegamuwa, Dodanduwa, Hambantota, Dikowita, Ambalangoda and Chilaw fisheries harbours.

Five more fishing harbours including three in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be constructed soon as directed by the Minister, he said.

Under the reorganisation program introduced by the Minister, fish outlets have been opened in all 143 Sathosa branches.

The numbers of Fisheries Corporation sales centres has also increased to 52, he said.Fish exporters have been asked to increase their fish supplies to the Fisheries Corporation from the five percent to 10 percent.

Fish prices have dropped by around 35 percent at the Corporation fish outlets, he said.He said that the fish harvest in the first quarter of this year had gone up by 4.2 per cent over that of last year.

The harvest during the first quarter of this year was 118,190 mt., as against last year's 113,450 mt., he said.