Developing fisheries

Sri Lanka is going to install a new fishing Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) which is intended to make the life of deep sea fishermen more easier and hassle free far out in the ocean. The VMS will use satellite technology to monitor and track all fishing vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It will also prevent fishermen from straying into alien territorial waters or fishing illegally in the EEZs of other countries.

It is hoped the new tracking system will once and for all put an end to the perennial problem faced by our fishermen who fall foul of the Indian coastguard and are arrested and detained for long periods necessitating intervention at diplomatic level to secure their release. The satellite monitoring system of fishing vessels are also expected to stop Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Sri Lanka stands to lose the European Union Export Certificate to market our fish in EU countries as a result of IUU fishing allegations. If this is withdrawn Sri Lanka would lose an income of US 21,000 that would affect 6,700 fishermen in the country. The concern of the EU countries is understandable considering the damage that could be caused to ocean resources by unconventional fishing methods. It is no secret that some of our big time fish mudalalis use a variety of methods to net in a rich harvest such as dynamiting which would cause immense harm to aquatic life. It is obvious that EU countries who lay great store in the preservation of environment and ocean resources is alarmed and have threatened to withdraw the Export Certificate.

The new satellite monitoring system can also help our fishermen to reap bountiful harvests by guiding them to deep sea locations with vast fishing resources.

While methods to help and guide our fishermen in the deep seas are salutary no doubt there is much to be done to uplift the country's fishing industry. We are still to properly exploit the full potential of our aquatic resources in the oceans surrounding us. Being an island nation it is telling indictment that we still import canned fish from South American countries due to this lack of initiative.

It is no secret that some of these countries poach in our waters and make off with rich harvests using modern and sophisticated fishing methods and what is more, export the same catch to us in canned form. The new satellite tracking system, it is hoped will put a halt to this. Our seas should be properly policed to ensure our ocean resources are nor spirited away in this fashion.

On the other hand, we ourselves should now endeavour to make the maximum use of our ocean resources by tapping its true potential. With the Northern seas now free from terrorist activity all measures should be taken to exploit their vast potential so that the people in the South who were denied its riches all these years could once again savour the ocean delicacies of the North. Sad to say even with North now fully open for fishing, fish prices are still very high putting this cheap source of protein beyond the reach of the poor.

Steps should be taken to ensure a regular supply of fish to the entire country now that all the obstacles pertaining to transport and other logistical factors have been removed with the end to terrorism. The North should also be advertised as fishery hub which would bring in the tourists to sample its rare delicacies. Ideally a fish canning plant should be opened in the North under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program to herald in the renaissance of the once bustling fishing landscape in the country. This, while providing employment, would also be a tremendous boon to the Northern fishermen.

It is time that the Government consider granting priority to develop the country's fishing industry which suffered a body blow due to the war. Our fishermen should be introduced into the latest fishing methods and trained to be successful entrepreneurs in their own right by venturing into exports like in the Western countries. It is hoped that the Marine University which was the brainchild of President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was Fisheries Minister will provide the necessary impetus for this.

We say this because like in the agricultural field there is a trend where the next generation of our fishermen are opting out of their traditional profession and venturing out into different fields. If the trend catches up, much harm could be caused to the fishing industry. Therefore all incentives should be given to this sector to make the fishing industry an attractive and profitable proposition that would bring in rich harvests and dividends.