Foreigners harvesting our fish, claim locals

By Malik Gunatilleke

An umbrella organisation representing fishermen has lodged a strong protest with the Fisheries Minister against the Government granting approval for foreign fishing vessels to fish in Sri Lankan waters and against an existing agreement with the Maldives that continues to affect their livelihoods and the local industry.

National Fisherman Cooperative Society (NFCS) spokesman Herman Kumara told The Sunday Times that due to the superior technology employed in foreign vessels, local fishermen were at a disadvantage to get a decent catch of fish.

Fishermen protesting outside the Fisheries Ministry premises at Maligawatta. Pic by Athula Devapriya

“The Fisheries Minister said around 22 foreign fishing vessels were given permission to operate in our waters. The foreign fishing vessels have superior technology and naturally their owners catch more fish,” he said.

He said foreign fishermen are also given preference in the local market while local fishermen were left to sell their fish at a lower price to various independent brokers.

“When President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power he promised to put an end to the selling of our resources to foreign countries. Why has he not kept his promise?” he asked.

Mr. Kumara said the Government had signed an agreement with the Maldivian authorities to allow them to carry out fishing in Sri Lankan waters while also allowing them to export the fish from Sri Lanka.

“The Government has provided Maldives with shipping vessels to carry out their fishing activities in our seas. We find this unacceptable as the local fishermen are being compromised,” he said.

The NFCS launched a large-scale protest campaign on this issue and following the protest last Monday, the NFCS decided to meet Fisheries Minister Felix Perera to discuss their grievances.

However, Fisheries Ministry Secretary G. Piyasena claimed the Government did not have any agreement with the Maldivian authorities.

“We only have a MoU with the Maldivian authorities to help Sri Lanka with fishing technology,” he said. Yet after the meeting between the two parties held on Wednesday the NFCS claimed the Fisheries Minister admitted to having such an agreement and also decided to cancel the MoU.

Mr. Kumara said the Government also agreed to look into the matter of fixed fish prices and give market preference to local fishermen.

He also said the Fisheries Minister was not prepared to cancel the agreement which allowed foreign fishing vessels to fish in Sri Lankan waters as the revenue loss for the Government would be too immense to bear.