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State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi has stressed that the projects initiated should not be just another project but projects that would benefit the people of the country.
This was stated by the Minister at a meeting with a Chinese delegation held at the Minister’s office on a project to locally produce fish bait needed for the fisheries industry.
The Minister asked the Chinese delegation whether the new project could totally fulfil the fish bait requirement for fishermen engaged in tuna fishing in deep seas. He pointed out that if such production could be made it would be of great assistance to save Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange.
The project involves the capture of squid, which is used as a bait for multiday deep sea fishing in the international seas, 200 nautical miles from Sri Lanka. In addition, it was revealed that the country can earn a large income by catching fish required for the canned fish industry.
At present, about 700 local multiday trawlers are leaving for international fishing and each vessel carries at least six tonnes of bait for one trip.
Fishermen will have to spend about Rs. 300 per kg of imported bait. The Government also provides a tax concession of Rs. 50 per kg of imported bait. It was emphasised at this meeting that through the new project bait can be provided at half the price at Rs. 150 per kg to the fishermen.
This will enable the Government to save billions of rupees of foreign exchange annually, and the Government would be able to spend a large sum of money, which is now lost to the Government as a tax concession, for the welfare of the people, State Minister Wedaarachchi said. Minister Wedaarachchi said the Government will be informed of this program and action will be taken to commence the work.
The Minister of State said it will be a big achievement that through the proper implementation of this program a bigger harvest of fish can be reaped for export and the people could easily obtain quality fish at very low prices.
The Minister said he expects to make necessary arrangements for the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation to export the fish harvest and also to distribute to the local market. Through the measure it would be possible to solve the financial crisis of the Fisheries Corporation by opening up an additional revenue sources, he added.
The Chinese delegation pointed out that locating high fish density areas in sea using satellite technology as well as identifying the fish species could help to protect the small fish species. They also noted that the canned fish industry could provide a large economic benefit to Sri Lanka.
Minister Wedaarachchi requested the Chinese delegation to immediately provide a detailed report on the cost of importing the bait, the amount that could be saved to the Government and the amount of the relief to the fishermen through the implementation of the project.
State Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Secretary W.D. Sandanayake, Minister of State Private Secretary Dinesh Kumara and Ceynor Foundation Ltd. Managing Director Ayesh Ranawaka were present.
