Sri Lanka yesterday launched a National Plan for the Safety of fishermen and fishing vessels at sea, under the patronage of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.
The Fisheries Department formulated this National Plan with the technical and financial assistance granted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) executed Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (RFLP)which is funded by Spain.
Minister Senaratne said fisher and vessel safety in Sri Lanka has taken a major step forward with the launch of this new National Plan for the safety of fishers and fishing vessels at sea.
This plan formalizes the national approach to safety at sea in Sri Lanka and it creates a strong foundation for activities which were previously taking place on an ad hoc basis and also clarifies the responsibilities of relevant organizations, the Minister said.
The local fisheries sector generates substantial foreign earnings while supporting the livelihoods of thousands of small scale fishermen. In such a situation, enhancing the safety of vessels and fishers will deliver more economic and social benefits from national to community level, FAO Representative Patrick Evans said.
This new plan was developed with active collaboration of all major stakeholders, including the National Aquatic Resources and Development Agency (NARA), Ceylon Fisheries Harbours Corporation (CFHC), Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Police, Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and all fishing communities themselves.
Ensuring the safety and well being of fishermen and fishing vessels at sea, obtaining the active participation of community based organizations in this regard are the main objectives of this plan.
The capacity of fishermen to cope with distress situations will be enhanced as will that of boat builders and equipment suppliers to improve and maintain quality standards of their supplies.
A Fisheries Safety at Sea Task Force (FISTAF) for policy making and overseeing implementation of the plan and a Monitoring Task Force (MTF) foe inspection and surveillance at sea are to be created in the future.
The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry is to take the plan forward and coordinate its implementation.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry Secretary Dr. D.M.R.B.Dissanayake, RFLP National Project Manager Dr. Champa Amarasiri, RFLP Bangkok Regional Office Communication Officer Steve Needham and number of guests were present at this event.
2013 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.