Mechanised system depletes fish resources:

Southern fishermen go for traditional methods

By P. Krishnaswamy

The Sri Lankan fishing communities observed the 'World Fisheries Day' on November 21, focusing manly on some of their problems. It was observed virtually in all fishing districts including Jaffna, Mannar, Negombo, Galle, Matara and Batticaloa. The Mannar and Jaffna district fisher communities have passed resolutions requesting an end to the long unresolved 'Cross Border Issue' while those of the South, West and East have highlighted on other issues, especially their need for continued fuel subsidy and preservation of the traditional methods of fishing.

Amidst reiterated concerns of world bodies over the progressively depleting fish stocks and marine resources, due mainly to human activities, the fishing communities throughout the world also celebrated the 'World Fisheries Day' through rallies, workshops, seminars, public meetings, cultural programs, demonstrations etc. The 'World Fisheries Day' helps in highlighting the critical importance to human lives, of water and the lives it sustains, both in and out of water. A UN study has reported global warming, which poses a greater threat to island nations, as one significant factor contributing to the decline of the world's fisheries. The other factors causing the decline have been reported as loss of essential fish habitat, environmental pollution which results in ultraviolet radiation, overfishing and mechanization which includes bottom trawling and other unsustainable methods of fishing.

Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's UPFA Government has implemented a wide range of projects to make the life of a fisherman safer, happier and prosperous than it has ever been before and without parallel in any other country in the region. The Dikkowita harbour, the biggest fisheries harbour in the South Asian region, constructed at a cost of 850 million rupees, the state-of-the-art Central Fish Market Complex, constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.7 Million, the several fish canning factories and many other similar projects in the offing, including eleven fishing harbours for the North, are achievements of the Government in the recent years.

Harvest

More importantly, the vessel monitoring system has been introduced. Sri Lanka is the first country in the region to introduce the system. The fishermen are being guided and assisted by satellite information and data. They will be apprised of the details of the areas of fish concentration on different seasons or days so as to help them to reduce the number of days spent in the sea, save on fuel cost and get a good harvest. Many other projects and benefits are in the pipeline, according to Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

An insurance scheme and a pension scheme were also launched by the Ministry for the welfare of the fishermen. Under the insurance scheme, the fishermen are entitled to benefits enjoyed by the the government servants. A fisherman has to pay only Rs. 750 every year for receiving the benefits under the scheme, in the case of accidents. The Ministry has also introduced a pension scheme. At the age of 60 a fishermen will draw a pension of Rs. 10,000, same as a state employee, the Minister said. After the military defeat of terrorism about four years and five months ago, all fishing restrictions on the Northern fishermen were lifted, they were resettled and have returned to their traditional profession.

But, not withstanding these, the Northern fishermen had observed the 'World Fisheries Day' on a low note on account of the many problems that they encounter. In a representation sent to Minister Senaratne, the Federation of Mannar Fishermen's Societies has stated that about 40,000 fishermen of the district have been deprived of their livelihood because of poaching by Indian trawlers.

Bottom trawling

They have requested the Government to take steps to i) prevent encroachment by Indian trawlers, (ii) take immediate steps to get the release of Sri Lankan fishermen captured and imprisoned in India, (iii) impose a ban on cylinder fishing in the district, (iv) provide them disaster relief, (v) take steps to prevent destruction of fish habitats, including the coral reefs, and (vi) continuation of the fuel subsidy system. The other issues that they have raised in their representation are:

"Their marine resources are being destroyed by bottom trawler fishing methods. The fishermen who returned after the elimination of terrorism are not able to fish freely due to various factors. The significant corals and sea reefs are being destroyed. No resources are going to be left behind for the future generation. Small scale fishermen have totally been deprived of their livelihood. Expensive fishing nets and fishing equipment are also being destroyed by these trawlers and no one has received any compensation for his losses. Sea plants, which serve as food resource for the fish while also providing protection to them are also being destroyed by these trawlers.

Resolutions

The fishermen of the district are losing fish and shrimp stocks worth millions of rupees to the poachers as a matter of every y day occurrence. are snatched away taken away from our sea areas by these trawlers. Because of the presence of these Indian trawlers, local fishing can be done for only three days in a week."

Fishing communities of Negombo have adopted resolutions insisting on preventing destructive methods of fishing, preventing acquisition of lands in the vicinity of the fishing areas and protecting the water bodies in the areas.

Animator of the Southern Fishermen's Organisation (SFO) Maduka Sampath told the Sunday Observer that they adopted a resolution calling upon the Government and all other fisheries authorities to help them to preserve their traditional methods of fishing since the 'mechanized system' is contributing to depletion of fish stocks in their fishing grounds. 'Dynamite fishing' in their area is also posing a grave threat to the sustainability of the industry, he said.