Moves to boost fisheries in Northeast:

District fisheries office for Jaffna

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said last week after opening the first District Fisheries Office in Jaffna that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is keen on reviving the fish industry in Jaffna and that a special task force has been appointed to address fisheries problems in the country's Northern and Eastern provinces.

Fisheries Ministry sources said the Ministry has spent Rs 22.6 million to build the new Fisheries Office.

It comprises a fully equipped auditorium, a computer unit and sanitary facilities.

Minister Senaratne said the Ministry is gathering information about the boats , the disposition of fishery harbours in the North and East fishing gears and nets from Mulliativu to Kilinochchi across Jaffna, to assess where the industry stands to step up action to develop it by providing infrastructure, boats and maadel-nets among other things.

He also said he has taken a decision not to allow fishermen in the South to take over fisheries in the North and East. The Minister said, "We should not let traditional fishermen in the North and East may get squeezed out from their fishing vocation." A separate section has been set up at the ministry to look into the problems of Northeast fishermen, he said.

The Ministry has built three fisheries harbours at Mailady , Gurunagar and Point Pedro, he said.

The Ministry will increase the number of fishery housing projects for fisher folk.

Moves are underway to construct new fishery jetties and Ice machines for development of fisheries in the provinces.