Northern fishermen ready for modernisation:

Adopt new methods in fishing industry - NPC Fisheries Minister

By P. Krishnaswamy

Minister of Fisheries, Transportation, Trade and Commerce and Rural Development of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) Balasubramaniyam Deneeswaran spoke to the Sunday Observer on crucial issues relating to the development of the fisheries sector in the province and the measures initiated to address the livelihood problems of the fishermen.

Since assuming office as PC Minister, he visited many fishing areas in the province and met the fishermen and their representatives. They expressed their desire that the Government's fuel subsidy should be continued instead of the new proposal to issue fishing gear. Since important powers relating to the fisheries sector are vested with the central government, he would work in coordination and consultation with Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, the central government Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and with the other authorities, he said in a telephone interview. Since fishing methods in many countries in the region are much advanced he would also take measures to modernise the fishing methods in respect of the Northern fishermen, Deneeswaran said.

Excerpts of the interview:

Question: What are your plans to consolidate and improve the fisheries sector of the Northern province?

Answer: The people of the Northern province gave us their mandate at the September 21, 2013 polls and we have formed our Board of Ministers. The fisheries sector is under the purview of my ministry. I have found that many important powers relating to the sector are with the central government. The fisher people had suffered and had lost much in the three-decade-long turbulence and much has to be done for them - to provide them a livelihood and for their proper rehabilitation. I have already visited many fishing areas of the province and would be visiting the other areas in the coming weeks. Fisher people in areas closer to navy camps are facing many restrictions on fishing. Their problems in this regard have to be taken up for discussion with the Central Government Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development. The ‘pass system’ is being implemented in many areas. Although the reason given is that it is only for the purpose of identification, the fishermen face many problems due to it. Since peace and democracy have been restored in the province and there are no security threats, the system should be done away with. We want to take up this issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister Dr. Rajitha

Senaratne and the other authorities concerned. Our main focus at present is over the livelihood of the fishermen. The Northern PC has to enact certain laws to address their problems. In a mid sea tragedy two weeks ago, off Silavathura, a father and the two sons were thrown overboard struck by tidal waves. The two sons died. This would not have happened had the life jackets been issued to the fishermen. Also the Coast Guard should be deployed in the fishing areas.

Q: According to media reports, organisations of the Northern fishermen have over and again lauded that the programs implemented by the central Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development have immensely contributed to the welfare of the fishermen. Your comments?

A: Much has been talked about on the construction of landing jetties and other such infrastructure development for the fisheries sector. But in many places the work has not been completed. Our council is proposing to make a formal request requesting the Government to complete them soon . Fishing boats and nets have been distributed but they have not been distributed among the deserving people. These are issues that we will take up with the central government.

Q: Has the Ministry introduced the vessel monitoring system and other measures for the benefit of the fishermen?

A: Compared to some other countries in the region, our fishing methods are far behind. So this has to be modernised and we will be taking steps in this regard in coordination with the central government. We will be holding discussions on this with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.

Q: Any other important issues relating to the fisheries sector that you want to take up with the Government?

A: There have been announcements on the Government's decision to discontinue the fuel subsidy of Rs. 9,300 and instead issue fishing gears. Issuing fishing gears will not benefit the fishermen because a large majority of the fishermen already have all equipment for fishing. During my visits to the fishing villages, the fishermen and their representatives insisted that they should continue to get the fuel subsidy. As such we request the Government to reconsider its decision to issue fishing gear in place of the fuel subsidy. The fuel subsidy has been of immense help to the fishermen and it is an impetus to them.

Q : Minister Douglas Devananda has charged that the TNA never uttered a single word in protest against poaching by Indian fishermen?

A: Minister Douglas Devananda has consented to work in coordination with us in the NPC. We have 30 councillors while the opposition led by his party councillor has eight members. We have come to an understanding on working in coordination for the general welfare of the Northern people. We strongly believe that the Minister will act in accordance with this understanding. I took over the Ministry only a little over a month ago and I want to make the right approach and take the right action on this issue.

Q: What is your position on the Indian fishermen's poaching and their prohibited methods of fishing in the Northern fishing waters which has posed a threat to the livelihood of the fishermen?

A: I have explained my views on this issue to the local media and also to the ‘Indian Express'. India has permitted the Indian fishermen to do ‘bottom trawling’ three days a week in their territorial waters of the Palk Strait. They take that opportunity to enter Sri Lankan territorial waters to engage in bottom trawling. Bottom trawling is prohibited in Sri Lanka because it destroys the fish resources and damages the coral reefs and other fish breeding grounds. We have estimated that due to their poaching, a family of a Northern fisherman loses about Rs. 8,000 per day. But this is a very delicate issue concerning our relations with India and also with the the South Indian Tamil Nadu State. On the one hand, the Northern fishermen had suffered immensely for thirty long years and they are trying to recover from their losses. On the other hand, India and the Tamils across the Palk Strait had supported the Northern Tamils in every possible manner. So we cannot look at them as enemies.

It is an issue which we have to handle diplomatically and very delicately. We have to change the mind of Indian fishermen by explaining to them the plight of the Northern fishermen. This can be done through meetings between fishermen's organisations of the two sides and personal visits to the fishing villages across the Palk Strait.

I believe that this can be done. There are laws to confiscate poaching vessels and to arrest and detain the fishermen. But a majority of them are fishermen who work for daily wages for owners of the vessels and their families eke out a hand to mouth existence. When they get arrested and detained here for weeks or months, their families suffer.

Q: What is your stance on India's proposal some time ago for both sides to engage in deep sea fishing as a final solution to the problem?

A: This is a good suggestion but our fishermen do not have any experience in handling multi-day boats and going deep sea fishing. There should be a program to impart training to them and to provide them the multi-day boats and other fishing gear for deep sea fishing. But under no circumstances can we allow our fertile fishing grounds to be exploited and ruined.

Q: Your party, the TNA, says that it is opposed to the Commonwealth Summit being hosted in Colombo. Your comments?

A: The party leadership has taken certain decisions as ‘strategic moves’ . There are contentions within the party. Some are opposed to the decision while some welcome it. As such I cannot comment on it.