Fish consumption increased by 11%

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Fish consumption has increased by 11 percent from last year due to reduced fish prices and expansion of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation's (CFC) fish stalls islandwide, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne.

The minister was addressing an opening ceremony of a community centre in Sagarasirigama. Community Centres and fish landing centers were opened in Epamulla, Ja-Ela, Palangathurai, Wennappuwa, Thaldeka, Kadawatha, Modarawella, Kurusagahapaduwa and Ambakandawila areas as well.

According to the ministry, over 6,500 fishery community members will benefit from these centres. They have been built under the Fisheries, Ports Development and Reconstruction Project with funds from Canadian International Development Agency under the guidance of the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Rs 6.6 million had been spent on the community centers, fish market and auction centre in Chillaw-Wennappuwa Thaldeka fisheries port, Rs 13.6 million on Marawila and South Kadawatha fishery services centers, engine stores, cool rooms, research office and conference room, Rs 8.9 million on the fish auction center, research offices and multi-duty building in Maha Wewa, Kurusagahapaduwa, Chillaw and Ambakandawila and Rs 12.8 million on Sagarasirigama and Palangathurai community and fish landing centers. Arrangements are in place to implement the Business Development Project for the fishery community in Sagarasirigama and Palangathurai areas.

"We have a responsibility to solve the problems of the fishery communities and uplift their livelihoods. That will also help us achieve our development goals. Protein deficiency had become a main reason for malnutrition in Sri Lanka and all measures will be taken immediately to reduce malnutrition while increasing fish consumption," the minister said. The ministry has taken action to ban illegal fishing vessels and equipment and to introduce Vessels Monitoring System (VMS) and Satellite system to identify their boundaries. All these measures will help develop the fisheries industry, he added.