World Fisheries Day today

Ridma Dissanayake

President Manhinda Rajapaksa has given priority to supplying fresh and nutritious fish for people at fair prices through the Budget 2013.

"The network of fish stalls in the country will be expanded within next two three years. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry and the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) will work together to increase the network of fish stalls to 200 by next year and to 300 by year 2015,"Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne said.

"Under this programme, arrangements are in place to establish CFC fish stalls countrywide, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

"We hope to reduce fish prices and increase consumption by expanding the CFC fish stall network through this programme," the Minister said.

Delivering a message to mark World Fisheries Day-2012 which falls on November 21, Minister Senaratne said the Fisheries Ministry and its affiliated institutions have taken measures to develop the Sri Lankan fisheries sector while increasing the annual fish harvest to 444,830 metric tons. All measures are in place to increase the inland water aquaculture harvest by 100 percent by next year while increasing the annual fish harvest to 686,000 metric tons. Equipment essential to fishing activities, including fishing vessels, nets, fish boxes and boat engines have been provided in Jaffna,Karainagar,Mullativu,Kilinochchi and Vavuniya. The National Fisheries Federation has already been established to uplift the livelihoods of fishing communities, in making the fisheries industry the "Wonder of Sri Lankan Economy",he further stated.