Seminar on awareness creation :

New technology for offshore fishing

A seminar conducted by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) for owners and skippers of multi-day fishing fleets will be held today at the Golden Star Beach Hotel, Negombo.

As an Island nation Sri Lanka has more provision to exploit living and non-living ocean resources. Tuna is one family of the living resources which provides a larger contribution to the offshore fish production. Demand for Yellowfin Tuna in the export market has encouraged the offshore long line fishery in Sri Lanka. The ten-year fishery development plan (2007-2016) currently implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources envisages a considerable expansion of the number of multi-day fishing fleets, doubling the landings during this period.

Although the offshore fishery has potential for further growth, its development is constrained by risks of investment due to uncertainty of finding fishing grounds. To exploit the offshore fishery resources more effectively, fishers (vessel owners and skippers) need to use state-of-the-art technology such as fishery forecasting systems and the knowledge on the resource and handling of the modern marine equipments as well. This helps fishermen to tackle the highly migratory offshore fishery resources not only minimising the search time for fish which significantly affects the economics of their operations but also to enhance the catch per unit of effort (CPUE).

The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), which is the research arm of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, initiated a program for fishery forecasting in early 2000 using satellite data. The project "Development of a Satellite Based Fisheries Forecasting System for Sri Lanka ICE/SL/FIS/2006/04" funded by ICEIDA, was completed successfully and the fishery forecasting system is in place. The preliminary analyses of the validation of fish forecast have shown very encouraging results. Therefore, a series of awareness creation on the fishery forecasting system as well as the other modern technologies and the equipment will effectively increases the economic efficiency of the offshore fishing operations in Sri Lanka.

At the initial stage, limited numbers (40-50) fishers will be invited for the awareness programs in the close proximity to major fishery harbours. All the basic information will be provided in terms of the new technologies for offshore fishing with special emphasis on satellite based fishery forecasting and information dissemination system.

A one-day awareness program today consists of lectures and practical demonstrations on marine equipments and navigation for fishing. The program covers most of the aspects of fisheries, fishery forecasting, quality control, Navigation techniques and modern equipment.

The program will also provide information on the status of the Tuna resources in the Indian ocean and awareness on fishery forecasting and information dissemination system, Introduce new technologies and modern equipment for the sector, Improve the quality of fish by introducing onboard fish processing for value added products for export, Increase awareness on navigation for successful fishing operations and marine safety, Collect feedback information on proposed Digital Display Boards and collect information for formulation of a Certificate training program for Skippers.

The program will be interactive with a panel consisting of Dhammika Perera, Chairman/Director General of BOI, A.M.C. Kulasekera Deputy Director General of BOI and Haputantri, Chairman, NARA.