Inland water fisheries industry:

Ten percent yearly increase recorded

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The inland water fisheries industry is showing a 10 percent improvement yearly since the end of terrorism.

Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne opening the newly built NAQDA office in Kilinochchi.

The inland water fish harvest last year was recorded as the largest inland water fish harvest in the history of the country, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

Minister Senaratne was addressing the opening ceremony of the newly built National Aquaculture Development Authority’s (NAQDA) district office in Kilinochchi.

“Our inland water fishermen and aquaculture industrialists have increased their annual harvest to 68,950 metric tons last year and they aim to increase their annual harvest to 98,000 metric tons by the end of this year,” the minister said.

The government has spent Rs 28 million on this project.

The minister also distributed fishing vessels, nets, fishing equipment, bicycles and fish boxes for the fishermen in the Kilinochchi district.The minister said measures are in place to develop the inland water fisheries and aquaculture industry in the Northern and Eastern provinces while increasing their annual harvest by 20 percent.

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has already implemented a number of projects including seaweeds projects, oyster farming projects, sea cucumber farming projects and Moda fish projects in the Northern and Eastern provinces to increase the fish harvest in the provinces. The ministry has already released fish fingerlings to tanks in these areas and granted training for fishermen to use modern technologies and equipment in fishing activities, minister said.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne and NAQDA Chairman Jayantha Chandrasoma were also present.