By Don Asoka Wijewardena
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne said the per capita consumption of fish was 13 kg per year, but he would be able to increase it to 21 kgs by 2013. It would be a 60 per cent increase.
Sri Lanka had been exporting 19,000 tonnes of fish annually, but action had been taken to double the amount, he said at a conference on Sustainable Market for Fish held at Eden Spa Resort Hotel recently.
Minister Senaratne said that Sri Lanka was getting US $ 190 million through fish exports annually, but very soon Sri Lanka would export double that amount.
He pointed out that a new training programme on fishing technology was essential to achieve targets. Under the Malasiyan Infofish Project, training would be given to Lankan fishermen on the safety and quality of fish caught. Training on Market diversification and sustainable development in the industry would also be given to fishermen.
Lanka’s tuna was extremely popular in Western countries. The countries in the European Union, China, the United States of America and Japan were buying tuna from Sri Lanka. These markets were highly lucrative. They would be further diversified shortly, Senaratne said.
He said that the Sri Lanka Fisheries Act would be amended in the near future.
The Ministry had also formulated several plans to introduce measures to sustainably preserve tuna and prevent illegal activities at some fish unloading harbours. The Lanka Fisheries Corporation State Industry Act was amended recently.
Minister Senaratne noted that in future international investors would be able to join Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry and commence various development projects. Sri Lankan fishermen would be able to get new knowledge on modern technology, safety methods, maintenance of nutritional values of fish, modern fishing gear and boats.
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