National Strategic Plan for fisheries development drafted

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry officials have drafted a national strategic plan for fisheries development for 2010 to 2013 period during which the ministry will promote development of inland fisheries to improve nutritional status and the food security of the people by increasing national fish production.

Ministry officials last week handed over the Plan to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees. The plan had been formulated in keeping with the Ten Year Development Policy Framework of the Fisheries and Aquatic sector with the government expecting to boost the country's economic growth to double digits from the 8 percent growth expected for 2011.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry's Development Director General Indra Ranasingha said their plans envisioned in the National Strategic Plan to increase its inland fish production by double by the end of 2013, from present production of 46,000 metric tonnes to 96,000 metric tonnes. There are about 100,000 seasonal village tanks, 41,049 flood lakes, 8019 upland reservoirs and 22,670 Mahaweli river basins that will be used for culture-based fisheries under the Plan, according to Ministry sources.