Diverse fisheries projects – North will be brought on par with the South:

Ministry aims at self-sufficiency in fish

By Mohammed MAAUR

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry will improve the facilities of anchorages, jetties, fisheries harbours and fishing ports, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. In addition, 40 anchorages and 100 ports will be fully equipped. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has allocated Rs. 2,000 million from Budget 2013, for the purpose he said.

Plans are afoot to develop Dickovita, Cod-Bay, Mirissa, Kudawella, Beruwela, Hikkaduwa and Puranawella fisheries harbours into fully equipped fisheries harbours within a couple of years.

The Government spends Rs. 257 million on fuel subsidy for fishermen per month. Nearly Rs. 1,361 million was spent last year since the introduction of the fuel subsidy program up to December 31, Minister Senaratne said.

The Fisheries Ministry aims at achieving self-sufficiency in fish production by 2016 while eliminating malnutrition. The Ministry along with its foreign donors and counterparts plan to implement diverse fisheries sector improvement projects including in the North and the East, this year.

The fish production has increased immensely within a period of less than three years resulting with the elimination of terrorism. The fishermen in the North East contribute largely to the national fish production.

This year the Fisheries Ministry will pay attention to protect the hygiene and freshness of the fish. It is aimed at reducing fish going waste.

The Ministry has drafted various plans including the continuation of the fuel subsidy while introducing numerous welfare programs for fishermen. A huge sum of money has been allocated by the Government through Budget-2013 to improve the fisheries and canned fish industry. The Government has relaxed the tax on the imports of raw material and equipment for canned fish plants. The tax on canned fish however has been increased to protect the domestic canned fish industry.

The fuel subsidy for small scale fishermen will continue uninterruptedly, a spokesperson for the Fisheries Ministry, D.S. Narendra Rajapaksa said. The fuel subsidy program was introduced last year on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and under the supervision of Minister Senaratne following the increase of fuel price.

Plans are afoot by the Fisheries Ministry to provide a Rs. 30,000 fuel subsidy for registered fishing vessels per month, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, steps have been taken to provide 2,500 litres of diesel worth Rs. 31,200 to multi-day fishing vessels per month, 1,500 litres of diesel worth Rs. 19,200 for one day roller boats, 250 litres of kerosene oil worth Rs. 9,375 for the vessels which operate with kerosene oil and Rs. 9,375 worth kerosene oil for engined traditional boats, he said.

Two fish processing centres wiil be set up in Mannar and Jaffna under the Uthuru Wasanthaya accelerated Northern development drive.

Two foreign investors are expected to invest on these projects. The Fisheries Ministry is engaged in talks with the relevant parties in this regard.

Plans are also afoot to set up fish preservation centres in the North, East and South soon. The domestic and foreign investors will be given opportunities to invest in these projects, Ministry sources said. The Fisheries Minister has taken steps to eliminate the fish mafia in the seas, spokesman Narendra Rajapaksa said.

The Minister plans to re-launch the Diyawara Gammana fisheries housing program introduced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was the Fisheries Minister during President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge’s regime.

The Diyawara Gammana program will help solve the housing problems of the fishing community.

The Ministry plans to set up dry docks in close proximity to fisheries harbours. The first dry dock was started at the Beruwela fisheries harbour recently.

The Ministry will pay attention to the canned fish industry in addition to promoting its consumption. While encouraging domestic investors to the canned fish industry they will be given tax relief to import required equipment.

The Ministry has noted to bring the infrastructure facilities in the Northern province on par with the south to boost the industry.

Developed Valachchenai fisheries harbour.

A massive haul of fishing nets ready to be loaded to a fishing vessel.

Minister Senaratne during his visit to the Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts distributed Rs. 45.7 million worth canoes, boat engines, fish crates, fishing nets, bicycles and a massive haul of fishing equipment to fishermen in these districts.

The Minister distributed the proceebs of a cheque worth Rs. 3.5 million among 35 fisheries women to start self-employments. The Post-Tsunami Coastal Rehabilitation and Resource Management program operating under the provision of International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) provided full sponsorship for the program.

A number of fisheries ports in the North and the East have been developed through the community participated fishing ports development project.

The Canadian Government extended financial assistance to the project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA). Under the program Kallapadu, Seelawattai, and a large number of fishing ports were developed in the Mullaitivu district. The Fisheries Ministry has developed many facilities for fishermen in the Mullaitivu district including a two storied office complex, a community centre, a fisheries inspection office and a fisheries development office. The cost of the project is Rs. 45.3 million.

Pallimunai, Pesalai and other fishing ports have been developed in the Mannar district at a cost of Rs. 38.3 million.

Valachchenai, Pethalai, Poonochimunai and Settipalayam fisheries harbours have been developed at a cost of Rs.14.2 million.

The Maligaikadu and Sainthamaruthu fisheries harbours in the Ampara district were developed spending Rs. 10.3 million. Samudhragama, Irakkakandi and Jayanagar Jetty, Kuchaveli in the Trincomalee district were developed at a cost of Rs. 24 million.

Motor-cycles, computers, printers and scan machines were given to Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Kalmunai, Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee fisheries harbours at a cost of Rs. 5.8 million.

Plans are afoot to construct a two storied fisheries office in Batticaloa estimated at a cost of Rs. 17 million with assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Katthankudi fishing port will be developed at a cost of Rs. 20 million. A large number of problems faced by the fishing community in the Batticaloa district could thus be solved.

The tsunami housing scheme consisting sixty housing units under the IFAD project of the Fisheries Ministry was commissioned to beneficiaries recently. The cost of the project was Rs. 33.4 million.

On the directive of Minister Senaratne steps have been taken to start fresh water fish farms in 8,000 fresh water reservoirs to improve the fresh water fishing industry. It is expected to double the fresh water fish production. The fresh water fisheries industry has recorded a growth on nearly 17 percent in a short period.