New fisheries harbours and anchor points for North and East

by Mohammed Naalir

Dr. Rajitha Senaratne

The Fisheries industry in the North and the East is fast developing after the elimination of LTTE terrorism.

The Northern and Eastern fishermen contributed 60 percent of country's fish requirement before the emergence of LTTE terrorism.

Fishing is the main profession of the people in the coastal belt along the North and the East.

It is crucial to develop existing harbours and anchor points with modern facilities and setting new fisheries harbours to uplift the industry.

Gurunagar jetty Cod Bay jetty

New fisheries harbours and anchor points will be set up depending on the need of the fishermen of the area.

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry sources said that the Gurunagar, Gandhara and Silavathurai fishery harbours would be developed at a cost of Euro 45 million. Gurunagar fisheries harbour is located in Jaffna and Silavaturai fisheries harbours in Mannar.

The construction work of Mailadi and Gurunagar fisheries harbours has already commenced, the Ministry sources said.

Minister Rajitha Senaratne during his tour in Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts, Sampathnuwara Muttiyakandu, Iranamadu, Poonarin, Pallikuda and Karachchi areas gave an undertaking that the problems of the fishermen would be addressed shortly.

The Minister also distributed boats, bicycles, canoes, mechanised boats, engines, fish crates and fishing nets worth over Rs. 45.7 million.

He told them the Government is committed to uplift the industry.

Fishing gear worth over Rs. 24.7 million was distributed among fishermen in Mullaitivu and Vavuniya district.

Minister Senaratne opened the Jaffna District Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development office constructed at a cost of Rs. 22.6 million and equipped with sanitation facilities, a computer division and fully furnished conference hall.

The Government plans to start ice plants and refrigeration centres in the fishing harbour premises to ensure safe storage of harvest.

A few months ago Minister Senaratne during his visit to Jaffna allocated Rs. 55 million loan assistance to 150 fishermen to purchase boats and fishing equipment. This loan scheme scheduled to the eastern province as well.

Several places have been identified as being suitable for new fishery harbours and anchor points in the North.

The Government will not permit individuals to set up fisheries harbours or anchor points on their own.

The Government has also introduced a loan scheme titled "Diyawara Diriya" to help a large number of fishermen to purchase fishing boats, multi day fishing boats and fishing equipment.

The beneficiary has to repay the loan at only eight percent interest while four percent will be borne by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry. A fishermen can obtain a loan of Rs. 20 to 30 million under this scheme.

Depending on the necessity, the loan could be increased from Rs. 30 to 40 million. Meanwhile the ban on the use of dynamite, Laila fishing nets (Surukku del), lights course other dangerous devices in fishing has resulted in the increase of fish harvest in the North and East region.

Minister Senaratne opened a Radio Communication tower, a two storeyed building constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.5 million and laid the foundation stone for two fishermen housing schemes with 60 and 40 housing units in Sainthamaruthu.

The Government plans to construct 250 housing units for fishermen in Batticaloa. The Minister also opened a Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development district office in Batticaloa constructed at a cost of Rs. 17 million. The project was funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The fishermen who were displaced during the conflict have been resettled in their old lands and will be given priority whenever the Government provides facilities. The Minister has directed the authorities not to permit outsiders to use Madhel for fishing in the North and East.

Vacancies in the fisheries sector in the Northern and the Eastern provinces will be filled locally.

The Government has relaxed the ban on fishing in Iranamadu tank following a discussion the Minister had with the Defence Ministry.

The Minister has decided to introduce Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) which should monitor the fishermen movements in the seas. The fishermen could also be warned of climatic changes under VMC.

All fishing boats will be registered in this process. Unregistered fishing boats can be identified via VMS. Fishing boats belonging to other countries could also be identified by this method.