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Govt to relax laws against bottom trawling by Sri Lankans
In a policy review, the Government is to permit what it calls a ‘less destructive’ trawler fishing practice for Sri Lankans in selected sea areas.Fisheries Department Director General M.C.L. Fernando who is vested with powers to issue fishing licences told the Sunday Times the ministry had taken a decision to introduce an effective fishing mechanism less destructive compared to bottom trawling.
“We are planning to introduce an amendment to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act next month to enable local fishermen to engage in small-scale trawling practice in limited areas,” he said.
The move is seen as a reversal of the Government’s policy of criminalising bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters. Hundreds of local trawler owners will be given licences to carry out fishing in selected waters. This move comes after complaints from local fishermen that their livelihood is in danger due to the tough laws.
On July 6, Parliament passed an amendment to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act declaring any form of bottom trawling an offence. According to the amendment, violators would be get a jail term of two year or a fine of Rs. 50,000. Though the amendment was passed six months ago, the law is yet to be implemented. “At present, there are some 700 local trawlers actively engaged in fishing in our waters. They have requested the Minister to enable them to carry out less destructive fishing methods in shallow waters for prawns and crabs,” Mr Fernando said.
He noted that several fisher unions had staged protest outside Parliament when the amendment was being debated. According to Director General, the ministry has asked for a comprehensive report from National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency to identify places where limited trawling practice could be carried out around the island without causing any trouble for traditional fisherfolk.
Vowing to oppose any measures to reverse the ban on trawling practices, Northern fishermen unions said they were the worst hit by trawling practices carried out by Indian fishermen and now local fishermen with political support.
In Jaffna and Mannar where traditional fishermen continue to complain against rampant trawling practice by local fishermen, the Fisheries Department officials are not willing to implement the law but assured to carry out awareness programmes to switch to marine environment friendly fishing methods.
At Gurunagar and Pasaiyur in Jaffna, nearly 300 trawlers engaged in trawling have requested Northern Province Governor to grant a one-year grace period before the implementation of the law.
Opposing this move, former Jaffna Fisheries Cooperative Union leader N V Subramaniam said, “If the government allows limited trawling practice in our waters for local fishermen, we will have to face the same situation we suffered from Indian bottom trawling and there would be no fish left, he said.