Agreement signed to construct fishery harbours

Suraj A Bandara

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry signed an agreement with the Denmark Construction Company MTHojgaard to construct three fishery harbours in Selawatturai in Jaffna, Gurunagar in Mannar and Gandara in Matara.

The exchange of agreements took place between the MTHojgaard Commercial Manager Jonas Jacobsen and Fisheries Ministry Secretary Dr Damitha Soyza at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel yesterday.

The estimated cost for the constructions is Euro 44.97. The duration of the project will be from 2011 to 2014.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said the objective of constructing harbours in the Northern province was to develop the fisheries infrastructure and improve the livelihood of the coastal fishing communities.

These constructions were earmarked under the fisheries sector development strategy 2010-2013 of the Fisheries Ministry.

The marine fish production will be increased from 349,315 mt in 2010 to 590,890 mt in 2013. The Ministry envisages to achieve 40 percent production increase in the northern province.

The Financial assistance for these projects is given through HSBC and Eksport Kredit Fondern (EKF) Denmark.

The Minister said the construction of the Dikowita harbour cost Euro 53 million. But that was not equipped with all facilities needed to a fisheries harbour. This project was envisaged after a deeper consideration and observed by the best constructors in the world.

He said the Ministry will to construct 23 fisheries harbours with latest facilities. The recent discussions with England and some other European countries were fruitful. They will visit the country soon and make pre-assessment.

Sri Lanka will be the fishing hub to European countries in the near future, he said.

Senaratne said the fisheries industry is the third largest revenue in the National economy. The fishing industry will be the first revenue earner in the country by 2013, he added.