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New laws in parliament to prevent dynamiting fish

by Trincomalee correspondent

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Mahinda Wijesekera addressing a meeting at Trincomalee Town Hall attended by officials, fisherfolks and their wives said new laws will be presented in Parliament regarding the use of dynamites to kill fish.

He said under the new laws offenders can be arrested not only while engaged in dynamiting but also when they were elsewhere provided there was evidence. Those who use dynamite to kill fish destroy the bigger fish and also fingerlings. This is one of the worst crimes that can be committed in the fishing sphere. Under the new law the minimum fine would be Rs. 100,000 and, or five years in jail.

Minister Wijesekera said there are 112 foreign vessels fishing in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. He will within the next one year provide 160 feet long boats which can fish even in the international waters. Five hundred youth also will be trained to handle these boats.

With more fish being caught dry fish, Maldive fish and tinned fish could be produced in this country and he has already imposed 10 per cent extra tax on dry fish, Maldive fish and tinned fish imported to this country.

The Minister further said there are about 4,000 employees under various categories in his ministry and it was his desire to increase this number to 15,000. There is no use being a Cabinet Minister if he is unable to provide employment to at least 10,000 youth.

Modern techniques have to be used in marine fishing. Fresh water fishing too will also be developed. Breeding prawns and lobsters is another source of income.

The Fisheries Minister said that within a month's time a national fisheries policy will be presented in Parliament. Fishermen will be greatly benefited under this policy.

Nearly 300 petitions with regard to the disappearances of fishing boats while the war was on, destroyed boats and fishing gear, capture and murder of fishermen in sea and also about damage caused to fishermen's houses by the cyclone in the year 2000 were presented to the minister who said he will have to ask for extra funds from the government or the Ministry of Rehabilitation to pay compensation for the losses.

In a petition submitted a Tamil fisherman stated that in 1990 during the ethnic violence more than 63 families went to India in 63 fishing boats. Though most of them have returned their boats are still held in Nagapattanam, India. The fishermen wanted the Fisheries Ministry to help them to bring back the boats. Minister Wijesekera said in reply if the boats are still in good condition he will definitely help the fishermen to get them.

He opened radio transmitting centres at Trincomalee and Codbay and also addressed a meeting organised by the Manayaveli Fisheries Co-operative Society at Manayaveli (Sandy Bay). 

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