Nets, engines for 248 tsunami hit fishers

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR) distributed close to 2,628 fishing nets and 90 engines to 248 tsunami affected fishers recently. This distribution of fishing equipment was made as part of two separate projects funded by the Government of Japan and Belgium which provide necessary inputs to all tsunami affected districts.

The tsunami related damage to the fisheries sector was immense, it disrupted the livelihood of a vast number of people living along the coastal areas. In order to overcome the difficulties and restore normalcy in these areas, the Government of Japan provided a wide range of assistance under its various grant schemes. FAO has utilised 90 percent of the emergency grant funds out of the total US$2.67 million provided by the Government of Japan for relief and rehabilitation work in the fisheries sector in tsunami-stricken coastal areas including the North and East of Sri Lanka.

Beneficiaries selected by MFAR were given vouchers varying from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40, 000, depending on the size of their boats. Beneficiaries employing canoes received vouchers sufficient to obtain 12 nets whilst beneficiaries operating six to seven metre long Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats received vouchers for 24 nets.

Out of the 90 engines distributed, 58 Suzuki 9.9 horsepower engines and 2,628 fishing nets were purchased through a Japanese funded FAO project with the remaining 32 Yamaha 15 horsepower engines acquired by a Belgian financed FAO project.