Japan funds FAO to provide nets, engines for fishermen

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry distributed 900 fishing nets and 67 engines to 130 tsunami affected fishermen last week.

This net and engine distribution is part of a project funded by the Japanese Government which provides fishing inputs to all tsunami affected districts.

"I am pleased to distribute the nets and engines directly to the beneficiaries. The Japanese Government hopes that these inputs will help fishermen restart their livelihoods as soon as possible", said Yasuhiro Watanabe of Japanese Embassy.

Beneficiaries selected by the Ministry were given vouchers varying from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000, depending on the size of their boats. The beneficiaries in Galle then chose a combination of nets according to their preference from the US$ 39,256 worth stock of nets provided by FAO through Japanese funding.

Approximately US$ 95,890 worth of 9.9 and 15-horsepower engines were provided to those who lost their engines due to the tsunami.

FAO is the UN's leading agency for the rehabilitation of fisheries sector. Whilst FAO and the government's immediate priority following the tsunami disaster has been to get the fishers fishing again as soon as possible, the longer-term strategy will be to improve the sector as a whole to raise the coastal communities income.