FAO to increase marine safety standards in Sri Lanka

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says that safety standards for fishing boat construction and operation must be improved to safeguard lives of Sri Lankan fishermen, states a press release issued by FAO.

Sri Lanka is known for its high standard and efficiency in producing fibreglass boats of different types. This reputation comes from a few boatyards that build to international standard and exports boats to European and Asian countries.

However, there are many makeshift boatyards that build boats of very low standard. Most of them are thriving as a result of the high demand for fishing craft to replace those destroyed by the tsunami. The level of technical competence in designing and constructing FRP hulls at most of these boatyards is unacceptably low.

Around 5 000 fishermen were killed by the tsunami waves in Sri Lanka whilst tens of thousands of others saw their houses destroyed and their means of earning a living - their boats and nets - washed away. Close to 76 per cent of Sri Lanka's fishing fleet was affected amounting to approximately US$36 million in damages.

FAO is assisting the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR) to improve the quality of production of Sri Lankan boatyards through a Naval Architect engaged with support from the Italian Civil Protection Department.

The expert boat designer set out to identify suitable institutional arrangements and expertise required for approval of designs and specifications and for monitoring and quality control during the construction of the boats.

FAO's initial assessment revealed that an alarming amount of new multi-day boat construction does not comply with internationally acceptable boat building practices and standards. There are shocking examples of boats cracking at sea because of inadequate thickness of the hull.

"It is vitally important that boat building safety standards in Sri Lanka be developed, applied, and enforced as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the next generation of Sri Lankan boats and fishermen" said Stefano Thermes, FAO Naval Architect.

FAO and MFAR are in the process of identifying safety standards suitable to the Sri Lankan context.

The rapid acceptance and implementation of these safety standards is crucial in order to catch increased current production in Sri Lankan boatyards. FAO will also try to mobilise funds for training of boatyard personnel in the design and construction of fishing boats.

FAO is the UN's coordinating agency for the rehabilitation of the fisheries sector.

Whilst FAO and the Sri Lankan government's immediate priority following the tsunami disaster has been to get the fishers fishing again as soon as possible, the longer-term strategy is to improve the sector as a whole with a view to raising the incomes of coastal communities.