Fish production hits all-time record

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the country’s fish production had increased to 486,000 metric tons by the end of 2012 compared to 339,000 metric tons in 2009. This shows that fish production has increased by nearly 50 percent - the highest ever recorded in Sri Lanka’s history.

The main reason for this situation was the liberation of the Northern and Eastern provinces from the clutches of LTTE terrorism. The Ministry has gone all out to check illegal fishing gear. The Fisheries Ministry has targeted a harvest of 685,000 metric tons of fish within the next two years, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The Minister said all illegal fishing gear is now being raided.

At present the Navy is doing a marvellous job all over the country in collaboration with fisheries inspectors to seize illegal fishing gear.

As a result, small fish is being grown to a large size and it has helped increase fish production.

Dr.Senaratne said the Ministry has also taken steps to increase aquaculture production. Aquaculture was banned in Sri Lanka during President R. Premadasa’s regime. It was relaunched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was Fisheries Minister. President Rajapaksa also set up the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA). Aquaculture has been developed to a great extent and the protein supply from fish is being increased.

The Ministry has also provided fishing gear countrywide.

The Government has made fishing a duty free and tax free industry. It has also done away with various permits.

The Ministry has implemented the Diyawara Diriya loan scheme and provided credit facilities worth one billion rupees to fishermen last year. The Ministry hopes to provide loans to the value of Rs.2 billion to the fishing community this year. The Ministry has introduced an insurance and pension scheme for fishermen. The fishermen’s future will be very secure with all these facilities, he said.