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The fisheries industry, one of Sri Lanka's oldest, was given a new face during the last seven years. The industry was equipped with modern facilities while improving the standard of living of the fishing folks.

Fisheries Housing

The Diyawara Gammana or Housing Scheme for the fishing families introduced in 1998 was a significant move taken to improve the welfare of the fishing community. This was a long felt need. During the year 2000, three types of fisheries housing programs were implemented. They were namely Diyawara Gammana housing program, Diyawarapura housing scheme and Visiri Niwasa housing program.

Under the Diyawara programme 2722 houses have been handed over to families and another 2513 houses are under construction. The Government spend Rs.200 million annually to implement this project.

Under the Visiri Nivasa Housing Scheme 10,121 houses were being constructing at a cost of Rs.375 million. The Government also increased the expenditure on development of drinking water,sanitary,roads, electricity, etc projects to Rs.317 million last year from Rs.80 million in 1994.

Fisheries training and education

Establishing of the Sagara Viswavidyalaya or the National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering was a milestone of the Sri Lankan fishing industry. B.Sc Degrees are conducted in this institute to improve technical and managerial skills. There was a high demand for enroling of students in the institute. During the last academic year 670 applications were received and 67 students were selected through a placement test and an interview for degree programme commenced January, 2001.

Fish production

Government policy emphasis on increasing fish production was geared to offshore fishery and inland and aquaculture sub sectors since coastal fishery is approaching speedily to the level of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).

As a result of the policy shift during the period, offshore fish production has increased 33,000 Mt in 1993 to 84,400 mt by 2000. The inland and aquaculture production has gone up from 18,000 in 1993 to 36,700 mt in 2000. During this period coastal fish production has increased by 13,360.

The total fish production of the year 2000 amounted to 304,380 mt. The major contributor to the total production (267,280 mt) is the Marine Sector where in coastal and offshore sectors recorded the yield of 183,250 mt and 84,400 mt respectively.

Inland fisheries and aquaculture

The National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) by its year 2000 program targeted three major objectives; increasing fish seed production, promotion of community participation in aquaculture and rehabilitation of infrastructure facilities at the fish breeding centres.

A total of 467,961 fish seed has been stocked at 18 seasonal tanks and ponds. In addition, community based fish seed production programme which was coordinated by NAQDA has produced 289,390 fish seed. All these seed were distributed among individual farmers and fishermen organisation by the 11 regional extension network of NAQDA.

Sri Lanka has earned Rs 10 billion in foreign exchange from fish exports in 2000, thereby recording a 91 per cent increase against the previous year's earning. The corresponding figure for 1999 was Rs 5.4 billion. In the year 1999, Sri Lanka exported 8870 tons of fish and other related products and the last year, this was considerably increased upto 18,557.5 tons, thereby recording a 109 per cent increase.

Of them, the highest export figure is reported from fish, chilled and frozen which amounted to 11,873 tons against 4301 in 1999. Besides, the shrimp exports has also shot up to 4855 tons last year against the previous year's figure of 2716 tons.

Fish export

Amongst other fishery products exported were: crab (597 tons), seashells (698), shark fins (119), dry fish (142), lobster (164), Mollucs (15), Ambergris (0.5) and Beche de mer (87).

Fishery harbours and anchorage facilities

Many fishery harbours were built and existing ones were rehabilitated during the last seven years. Some of such harbours are: Kudawella, Hikkaduwa, Panadura-Moratuwa, Puranawella,Kirinda and Dodanduwa. The fishery harbours in Mutuwal, Beruwala, Mirissa, Galle, Trincomalee have been improved with necessary facilities.

Sri Lanka's largest fishery harbour in Kudawella was built at a cost of Rs 316 million. The harbour consists of monitoring controlling and air rescue centre and administration complex. Hikkaduwa fishery harbour was also completed at a cost of Rs. 185 million. The harbour has facilities for net mending hall,water tanks,fish market.

Coast Conservation

During the last year 1,310 meters of protective structures were constructed. In addition, Wellawadiya Groynes 70 meters and Morawala revetment maintained the costal protection structures. The Ministry had issued 132 permits under the provision of the Coast Conservation Act. Monitoring of Coral mining and sand mining was carried out with the assistance of related institutions.

Coastal Resource Management Project (CRMP) was a major achievement for year 2000. It is the biggest development project ever been implemented in the fisheries sector.

The total project cost is Rs.6 billion and it spreads over a five years of project life.

Asian Development Bank and the Government of Netherlands have provided Rs. 4 billion.

Fishing gear supply

Both marine fishing gear items such as floats, boats, hooks, nylon, kuralon, inland fishing gear items such as drift cage nets and various types of nets were provided to the fishermen at competitive prices.

Fish net production

The Lunuvila fish net factory of Cey-Nor continued its operation throughout the year producing 201468 kgs of fish nets. In addition to this, Weeravila new fish net factory has commenced its production during the year.

Financial support for fish production

A fish production subsidy scheme was implemented last year giving greater emphasis to encourage deep sea fishing. A total of Rs. 19 million financial assistance were provided to fishermen.

Coast guards service

A coast guard service was commissioned with 175 coast guards with the following objectives: to protect fish resources from illegal fishing by foreign fishing vessels, assist fishermen who face trouble at sea and to protect fish resource from destructive practices, enforce Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and Coast Conservation Act to prevent illegal coral mining, sand mining and exploitation of fish resources through destructive fishing operations. Fully equipped 70 feet large boats and six small boats were constructed during this year for the use of coast guard officers. Construction was commenced to establish first regional monitoring, controlling, Surveillance Centre, manpower and buildings.

Detention of foreign fishing vessels

Nine foreign fishing vessels were detained for being poaching in Sri Lanka and a stupendous stock of fish was confiscated.

The vessels were release having charged with Rs. 1.3 million as fines.

Quality Improvement of Fish and Fishery Products. The European Council Food and Veterinary Office Mission visited Sri Lanka in November to assess the production conditions of export fish products and performance of the competent authority for health control of fish. They were satisfied with the performance of Sri lanka and permitted to exports to EU countries.

Welfare facilities

Dry rations worth Rs. 500,000 have been given to 177 fishing families who were affected by the disappearance of crew members along with the fishing boats. Measures were also taken to repatriate 147 fishermen and get released 21 fishing boats last year.

Fisheries research

The NARA had carried out 45 research projects throughout its eight divisions. Some of the research projects are mapping out a sea corridor to international waters via India, official navel maps showing access routs to Mirissa and Weligama Fisheries harbours, a book on Prawn farming in Sinhala language, a model mangrove park at Kadolkele in Negombo, information leaflets on shrimp diseases, a study to find the possibility of polyculture of shrimp and fish in low salinity brackish water in Southern coastal areas, assembling of the largest Blue whale skeleton ever found in Sri Lanka for public display.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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