Fishermen in Kalpitiya are demanding government intervene to stop banned fishing practices used by politically influential groups in the area. They claim the destructive practices were causing depletion in fish stocks and damage to the environment.
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| Whale watching is a major tourist attraction, but dynamiting may soon drive these gentle giants away from our waters. |
Early this week thousands of fishermen protested against the use of particular nets used by groups, which they say endanger the livelihood of over 15,000 fishermen in the area. This included those working on some 10,000 boats which engage in fishing on a daily basis.
The fishermen point out in addition to putting jobs at stake; these nets caused damage to the environment and even endangered dolphins which inhabit the area.
Dolphins have recently become a major a tourist attraction in the Kalpitiya area.
The President of the St Anne’s Fisheries Society in Thalawila, Henry Camilus told the Sunday Times the difference in the nets used by those involved in the illegal fishing operation was the smaller size of the mesh used.
“In the normal\traditional net, the width of the mesh is around four inches which results in only large fish being netted. “The smaller fish escape, thus protecting the fishing stocks. “The mesh size being used by those who are protected because of the patronage they enjoy have the width of just half an inch.
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| Early this week thousands of fishermen in Kalpitiya protested against the use of banned fishnets and the practice of dynamiting fish. |
“This results in even the fingerlings being caught”, he said.
He added these banned nets were also fitted with lead weights. They spread out and sink into the seabed resulting in even the sea weed getting entangled in the nets and getting destroyed.
The illegal nets are known as ‘Lyla’ or ‘Surakku’.
Mr Neil Sudath Kithsiri, a service provider to local and foreign tourists to the area told the Sunday Times that those using the banned nets operated in small groups of around five persons.
A number of them equipped with oxygen masks dive to the depths of the sea and manually spread the nets on the seabed.
He added “Another practice is for one person to dive in first and identify the variety of fish stock. In the event large stocks of the ‘kelewalla’ were available, dynamite is used to maxmise their catch. “But the result is that all fish in the vicinity are affected.
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| The use of this type of illicit fishing net results in the depletion of fish stocks as well as destruction of sea weed. |
“Usually dolphins follow the tuna” he said and when dynamite is used they too get killed.
Mr. Kithsiri added that recently numbers of dolphin carcasses were found at sea. Carcasses of whales too had been found in the area and in one instance the carcass of a whale had markings indicating it had been tied with a rope.
Continuing Kithsiri said “these nets also damage the coral reef. “Kalpitiya has been identified as an area to be developed as a tourist attraction and a number of hotels are due to be constructed. Therefore authorities should take action to prevent the environmental damage being carried out by a few influential persons”, he said.
The protesting fishermen at the Palakudawa Junction demand government and officials take action to stop these banned fishing practices.
North Western Provincial Council Fisheries Minister Sanath Nishatha Perera who arrived at the scene of the protest said he would resolve the matter by January 31.
Based on the assurance given by the provincial minister the fishermen called off further protest action, but said they would be watching to see whether his actions had any practical applicaion.
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| Protesters blocked roads and demanded government take action to halt illicit fishing practices |
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| The dynamiting of fish has resulted in large numbers of dolphins being killed in the waters off Kalpitiya. |
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