Fish production to increase to 686,000 MTs
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
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Minister
Senaratne |
Measures are in place to increase the total fish production of the
country to 686,000 metric tons by next year increasing the inland water
fish harvest to 98,000 metric tons, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.
The minister was explaining the future plans of the fisheries
industry issuing a message on International Ocean Day on June 8.
Arrangements have been made to increase the sea fish production in
the North and East to 43 percent and deep sea fish production by 194
percent. The inland water fish harvest will also be increased by 100
percent, he added. “In 2009, we received only 339,730 metric tons of
fish as the total fish harvest of the year. But we increased it to
444,830 metric tons within two years. It is the largest fish harvest in
the country's history.
We have already implemented a large scale programme to achieve these
goals by 2013,” the minister said. Banning of illegal fishing vessels
and equipment has caused the increase in fish harvest. It also helps
preserve the beauty of the sea as well, he said. In addition, all
arrangements have been made to begin aquatic organism farming in 8,000
new reservoirs this year to double the inland water fish harvest in the
country.
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