The government is in the process of formulating a national policy on Fisheries with the help of the Norwegian government, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said at a media briefing recently. He said the new policy will compliment Sri Lanka’s efforts to become a beacon in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the region. This will also re-establish its position in the EU market. The Minister said they would strive to get all stakeholders including the shadow ministers of fisheries involved in this process and get their consent to the new policy, so as to ensure its continuity through every new government in office.
Sri Lanka’s strenuous efforts to curb IUU fishing in its waters managed to revoke a red card ban on its fisheries products exports to the EU this year. However, the Minister said the country succeeded in sending only 30% of the initial demand to the EU.
To meet the demand for fish in the local market after the exports, the Ministry has proposed to build Aqua Culture Industrial Parks in Mannar, Hambantota and Batticaloa, with a plan to develop a crab city in Hambantota. Norway has also agreed to lend a special vessel for the year 2018 to help locate new fishing spots, a task which is handled by NARA at present. - MF