Lanka's fishery development efforts praised

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

While action has been taken by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry to implement a national Vessel Monitoring System(VSM) to regularize deep sea fishing operations, Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Executive Secretary Alejandro Anganuzzi has praised Sri Lanka's recent development of fisheries and its plans to operate its fisheries activities in conformity with international fishing standards .

Anganuzzi said, he will give his fullest cooperation and support to Sri Lanka to develop its fisheries. He said this after reviewing Sri Lanka's future plans to develop its fisheries at the completing of a three day visit to the country.

He had visited the country on an invitation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratna, who met him at the annual IOTC conference, which was held in Brisbane Australia last month.

The IOTC member countries levelled many charges against Sri Lanka at this conference stating that Sri Lankan fishermen have been engaged in Illegal Unreported and Unregular fishing in the British isles.

Anganuzzi said at the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development in Colombo, there have been reports of IUU fishing by Sri Lanka fishermen to be reviewed by the Commission.

Sri Lanka has not participated in the IOTC for the last four years during which the Commission has received complaints about IUU fishing by Sri Lankan fishermen.

Sri Lanka was on the brink of losing its ability to market Sri Lankan fish products in Europe, as the Commission of the Eurpoean Commission was intending to cancel Export Certificates of those countries that are non-cooperative to the international commitment to combat IUU fishing. Minister Rajitha Senaratna explained to us that Sri Lankan fishermen do not engage in IUU fishing, he said.