Boon to Batticaloa fishermen:

Rs.430m fisheries harbour opened

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

A new fisheries harbour cum fish market together with a fishing service centre complex has been opened at Batticaloa under the government's fishing sector development initiatives. The government invested Rs 430 million for this project with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

Batticaloa Fisheries Harbour Manager S S Hettige

The new fish market and fishing service centre complex at Batticaloa Pictures by Lalith C Gamage

The fisheries harbour provides fishermen and fish traders with various services, including, boat berthing facilities, provide information, supply fuel and water for fishing boats, provide fish marketing facilities and much more, Batticaloa Fisheries Harbour manager S S Hettige said. The fisheries harbour is managed by the Ceylon Fisheries Harbours Corporation.

He said around 25,000 people who engage in fishing related activities as boat owners, fishermen, fishing net manufacturers, fish vendors etc are benefited by this fisheries harbour complex. "The fisheries harbour consists of a fish market where fishermen can sell their fish yield directly to the fish vendors without the mediation of a third party.

Around 200,000 kilogrammes of fish is sold through the fish market per month, "Hettige said.

Fishermen can berth their boats at a very reasonable price at the boat yard of the harbour. The harbours fuel filling station has sufficient storage capacity with two 72,000 litre tanks. An ice making plant is being constructed at the harbour premises.The ice plant will be commissioned by October. Besides, a boat repairing yard is also being constructed at the harbour site aiming to provide services to 400 single day and multi - day fishing boats.

Hettige said moves are underway to carry out training programmes for fishermen on novel technology and additional knowledge. Fishermen will be educated on the use of modern fishing equipment with the aim of getting a bigger yield.