Expertise for inland fisheries

Shirley Wijesinghe

The National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Training Centre of Kalawewa will play a vital role in educating the people who are engaged in fresh water fishing as a means of self employment,with novel techniques and providing required technical knowhow in every aspects of the industry, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera said.

The Centre also works as a centre for the exchange of both local and foreign expertise for all stakeholders in the inland fishery sector, the Minister added.

He was addressing the opening ceremony of the National Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Training Centre constructed at a cost of Rs.150 million in Kalawewa, Anuradhapura, yesterday.

The Minister said only 50 percent of the freshwater and brackish water have been exploited for fishing so far. More aquatic resources should be utilized to fulfill the expected production targets. The centre will mobilise the required workforce for the aquaculture industry in the country.

A dynamic thrust will be enhanced utilising internal water bodies, specially in the North and East in association with Negenahirata Navodaya and Uthurata Wasanthaya master development drives, the Minister said.

Commenting on the new situation of the country after three decades of war the Minister said no longer is the two third of the country’s sea coast was under the LTTE and that fishing restrictions would be eased soon.

The training centre was established under the Aquatic Resources Development and Quality Improvement Project under the National Aquatic Resources Development Auth-ority(NAQUADA) coming under the direction of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry.