Fisheries industry making headway in N-E

By Mohammed NAALIR

The fisheries industry in the North and East is returning to normal as a result of the rapid development projects implemented by the Government.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has spent billions of rupees to rebuild the affected fisheries industry in the North and East. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry and foreign donors and investors has spent Rs. 855 million to provide infrastructure facilities for Northern and Eastern fishermen under the Mahinda Chinthanaya national development concept.

Two in three sea areas was taken over by the Government. Now fishermen in the North and East are carrying out independently. The fisheries industry is turning into an income generating mode in the region. On the directive of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne, the district office of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development was set up in Jaffna at a cost of Rs. 22.6 million with a view to improving the fisheries industry.

Canoes, boats, nets, fish containers, bicycles and other essential equipment worth Rs. 18 million were distributed among fishermen in the North, according to Ministry sources. Rs. 20 million financial assistance was granted to 200 fishermen in the North at Rs. 200,000 each. The reconstruction of Gurunagar Jetty is in progress.

During his recent visit to Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts Minister Rajitha Senaratne distributed Rs. 45.7 million worth canoes, boat engines, fish containers, fishing nets, bicycles and other equipment to fishermen in the region. The Minister also distributed Rs. 3.5 million to 350 fisher women for self-employment.

Minister Senaratne prepares to release fingerlings into the Iranamadu tank

The financial contribution for this program was made by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and Post Tsunami Coast Conservation and Resource Management Program.

The Number of Jetties which are maintained by the fishing community were also developed in the North and East with financial assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN.

The Samudhragama, Irakkakandi, Jayanagar, Kuchchaveli and Vijithapura fisheries Jetties were developed at a cost of Rs. 24 million. All facilities including access roads, water, electricity cool room and infrastructure facilities are available in those Jetties now, the Ministry sources said.

The Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Kalmunai, Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee district offices have been provided motor cycles, computers, printers and scanners at a cost of Rs. 5.8 million to expedite the service for fishermen.

Plans are afoot to construct a wholesale fish market with modern facilities in Trincomalee under the Post Tsunami Coast Conservation and Management Program implemented by IFAD.

A two storeyed building with 9100 square feet will be constructed under the supervision of Trincomalee District UPFA Parliamentarian and Deputy Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Susantha Punchinilame.

There will be 62 stalls with cool room facilities, store, office, water recycling unit, under ground water tank and drainage structure to release waste water and rain water will be constructed in the ground floor and 34 office rooms with a canteen will be built on the upper floor.

The proposed whole sale market will help to uplift the living standards of fishing folks in Trincomalee. A large quantity of fish will be prevented from perishing and fishermen can get a fair price for their harvest.

The Fisheries Ministry will renovate the Iranamadu tank at a cost of Rs. 300 million to improve fresh water fishing.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NAQDA) plans to set up a fingerling breeding centre in a 30 acre land area. Under the same project six mobile cool rooms will be provided to fishermen.

150,000 fingerlings have been released in the Udayarkattu tank in Puthukudiyiruppu Divisional Secretariat division in Mullaitivu district. Minister Senaratne during his visit to Mullaitivu distributed Rs. 2.2 million worth fishing nets, canoes and other tool kits to 20 fresh water fishermen. 3.5 million fingerlings were released to fresh water reservoirs in the North and East in 2010.

Minister Senaratne distributed 20 fibre glass canoes valued at Rs. Three million, 300 fishing nets and six computers to fishermen in Ampara district. Steps also have been taken to construct the Namal Oya Community Centre.

The NARA has made moves to popularise snail breeding. Now the NARA has introduced snail breading project in Trincomalee and Kinniya areas. If Rs. 25,000 was spent, over Rs. 200,000 can be earned through snail breeding.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry plans to introduce insurance and pension scheme for the benefit of a large number of fishermen.

Under the pension scheme after settling a nominal monthly premium, rupees 10,000 can be obtained monthly after retirement. Under the guidance of Minister Senaratne the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has prepared the proposed plan.

Nearly 80,000 fishermen have registered with the Ministry for the proposed pension and insurance schemes so far, the Ministry sources said.

The District Federation of the National Fisheries Federation has been set up in 23 districts out of 26, an officer attached to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry said.

In addition 1087 rural fisheries organisations have also been set up to address the problems of the fishing folks and to bring their problems to light.

The fishermen in the North and East contributed to 43 percent of the national fish harvest .

The fish harvest declined to 8 percent. During the past few years the fish harvest in the North and East increased to 13 percent as a result of the programs implemented by the Government to encourage fishermen in the North and East.

The Ministry expressed confidence that the fish harvest in the north and East could be increased to 23 percent before the end of this year.

The Government targets to increase the fish harvest in the North and East to 50 percent by 2013. A single person consumes approximately 13 kilos of fish per year. It is hoped that fish consumption per person would increase to 21 percent by 2013.

Meanwhile, to eradicate malnutrition of children, the Ministry has planned to increase fish harvest from 384,670 metric tons to 686,670 metric tons before the end of 2013.

Now 19,000 metric tons of fish is being exported. The Ministry is working out methods to double fish exports and to increase the income from Rs. 1020 million to Rs. 5,000 million by 2013.