Fishing in full swing in Jaffna, Mannar

Following the lifting of all restrictions on fishing, the industry is now gathering momentum in the northern districts of Jaffna and Mannar and arrangements are now under way to engage insulated trucks to transport the excess fish produce to Colombo and other southern areas, said Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, G. Piyasena.

With no restrictions on fishing any longer this amount is expected to increase further, fisheries sources said.

In Mannar, fisher people were already engaged in fishing and their number further increased with the resettlement of over 700 families in Musali, Mannar, from IDP welfare centres in April and June. The resettled fishermen were provided fishing gear and other assistance. Although there was no displacement of fisher families in the Jaffna district, they were not fully active due to the fishing restrictions in force and LTTE threats. However, at present they are free to go fishing 24 hours a day. With the northern fishing grounds of ‘Pedro Bank’ and ‘Wadge Bank’ which are rich in aquatic resources, the fish produce should increase substantially, the Ministry Secretary said.