Strengthening the National Fisheries Federation and thereby the rural fisher organizations is a priority, said State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi. He said discussions were held with the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to strengthen the National Fisheries Federation and take steps to provide relief to villagers at grass root level. The State Minister said that he wants to get the ideas of the fisher folk to direct the National Fisheries Federation. There are 53 rural Fisheries organizations and he plans to visit each of them. He added that they are also planning to provide some financial support to the rural Fisher Organizations to support the fisher folk. “My hope is to provide some kind of financial assistance to these rural fisheries organizations and thereby provide relief to the fisher folk in the village,” he said. “I want to activate the rural fisher organizations by recruiting new members and appointing a new committee. We are planning to give Rs 100,000 as a housing grant and Rs 30,000 to build a toilet for each,” he added. According to the State Minster a crab hatchery on a 56 acre farm in Rekawa will be opened on 26th August. The work on the farm will be completed in five months. There is a big demand for crabs and this program will be implemented island wide.