In Negombo, Chilaw and Puttalam:

FAO, Canada help set up Fish Landing Centres

The restoration and improvement of fish landing centres with stakeholder participation in management project has received grant assistance of US$ 4.9 million from the Canadian Government to develop and improve common facilities at 40 centres in the 13 fisheries districts, including two in the Northern Province, following the end of the conflict in the North.

FAO is implementing this project through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development -MFARD. All work is therefore being implemented to international standards. It targets the development of 40 small fish landing centres nationwide plus the construction of an office complex for the Department of Fisheries in Mullaitivu district. The majority of the national fleet of small fishing boats, which exceeds 40,000, is dependent on over 800 fish landing centres nationwide.

Production of fish from the coastal waters was around 202,000 metric tons during 2010. This compares with the production by offshore boats of 129,000 metric tons using 4,500 Multi-day and Day-boats operating from 17 fisheries harbours. The Ministry recognizes the benefits of the inshore fisheries sector to the national economy and to food security. The need to assist the large number of fishing communities operating small fishing craft with adequate common landing site facilities is therefore imperative. This project fulfils an important role in this regard. The MFARD and Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have played a crucial role in identifying the needs of the fishing communities being supported by the project.

On June 28 and 30 the inauguration of the facilities at the centres at Epamulla-Sagarasirigama in Ja-ela and Palangathurai in Negombo; Thaldeka and Kadawatha South in Wennappuwa; Moderawella in Marawila and Ambakandawila in Chilaw; and Mampuriya and Echchankaduwa in Puttalam took place with the participation of the Minister of Fisheries, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, accompanied by Pierre Heroux, Counsellor (Development), Canadian High Commission and Calvin Piggott, acting FAO Representative. As the Minister said at the openings the facilities provided are of immense benefit to the fishing communities and the Ministry expects the communities to manage these facilities in line with the business plans that have been developed with support from the project.

The people and Government of Canada have contributed generously in the development of the fisheries livelihoods of the people of Sri Lanka and hope these contributions will uplift the lives of the people to assist in becoming a more equitable, peaceful, and prosperous nation. The landing centres opened up this week are the culmination of over two years of work, starting in March 2009. Other sites in Trincomalee and other districts are also being opened throughout the country in the coming weeks. By the time the project is completed in September 2011 the project will have contributed to the livelihoods of over 15,000 coastal fishing families nationwide.

The project has adopted a participatory approach to strengthen the capacity of fishing communities aimed at the sustainable management of the facilities provided. This has involved the preparation of business plans by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry for the Fisheries Community Organisations and the delivery of training in operations and maintenance, micro-finance, fish handling, safety at sea and the supply of small equipment for the efficient and sustainable operations of the new landing centres.