North Western divers in deep misery

Buddhika Imbulana and Prasad Poornimal Puttalam group corr.

Divers in the North Western Coastal belt who make a living by scouring the deep blue sea for sea cucumber, chank, ornamental fish and lobsters are perturbed over the threat posed to their livelihood due to the dwindling marine resources in their sea area.

They say the problem had been exacerbated due to the invasion of their sea area by divers from other parts of the country.

There are about 80 local divers, residents in Kandakuliya, Puttalam. They said their profession which is very hazardous is restricted to six months due to vagaries of the weather.

They set out to see in boats to get to the diving area which is normally around reefs which abound with these resources. Normally two divers are taken in each boat.

After reaching the diving area they plunge into the sea around 8 a.m. wearing oxygen masks and carrying oxygen and nitrogen backpacks and remain underwater till about 2.30 p.m. before resurfacing to pack up and go back home after a hard day’s work.

Voicing their problems sea star divers co-operative society chairman Camillus Perera said he and his four brothers were first persons to start the diving profession in their locality after learning the trade from some divers hailing from Trincomalee.

Later the number increased to 24. Earlier their job was very rewarding as they were able to reap a big harvest. But today the harvest has dwindled due to the sharp increase in the number of registered divers and the invasion of their grounds by outsiders.

He alleged that diving licences had been issued in a haphazard manner, sometimes for financial and political considerations without an accent on skill and ability and availability of resources. This had increased the number of divers resulting in indiscriminate harvesting without giving adequate time for re-growth cycle.

Kandakuliya Fishermen’s Society Manager Chaminda Sugath said a big chank fetched about Rs. 750. Sea consumer is harvested mainly for export. Each diver aimed to earn at least Rs. 2,000 to 3,000 per day as their vocation was limited for six months of the year.

They would be able to earn a decent living with available marine resources if outsiders especially mudalalis are prevented from plundering the available resources. He also lamented the absence of an insurance scheme for their ilk.

“Fishermen are provided with insurance cover but we divers who engage in a more hazardous job are without such benefits,” He said these problems had become such a disincentive that some of the local divers had given up the job and taken to fishing and other trades.

Last week they made representations to the fisheries Deputy Minister about their grievances. They also requested him to prevent divers from other areas migrating to their sea area. Their profession would be more rewarding if there is proper management of the available resources and they received some State subsidy.

Ajith Upali, another diver in the locality said the increasing fuel cost was another big burden. They had to pay at least Rs. 1,500 per day for the boatman. He said sea cucumber had medical properties of rejuvenation. Divers should be offered more relief as they earned foreign exchange for the country.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Deputy Minister Neomal Perera when contacted said 260 permits had been issued for divers for harvesting sea cucumber and chank last year. Some of the permits had been taken by third parties like barbers, grocery owners and other businessmen.

In order to protect the trade from brokers and middlemen only 160 permits were issued this year after proper perusal. As for the allegation about outside divers migrating to the area, it could not be prevented since the sea was a common public property.