Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said at a discussion held at the Ministry of Fisheries on 21.08.2023 with officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and relevant institutions and representatives of all sectors related to the fishery industry aimed at finding solutions to the problems faced by the entire fisheries sector including the hike in fish prices, the scarcity of marine fishery resources, climate change, problems in exporting fish, problems faced by freshwater fish farming, problems faced by multi-day boat owners, which are currently affecting the fishing industry that prompt solutions will be given to the problems faced by the fishery industry.
Commenting further, the Minister stated that he will hold such meetings once in a month and accordingly, the officials and representatives of the respective fields will have the opportunity to present to him the problems in the respective fields so that steps could be taken to solve them promptly. Also, the Minister who asked the officials of the relevant departments about the current increase in the prices of fish pointed out that the reason for it was the change in weather resulting in the rise in temperature of the sea water due to South-West monsoon winds not coming about properly and the consequent depletion of the fish population. He also said that now that rough weather situation has ended, fish may abound in the ocean again by October and the prices of fish may drop in the future according to the opinions expressed here. The Minister who said that steps have been taken to stop illegal fishing methods and fishing using dynamite also said that there have been good responses to the decisions taken with the navy and other security agencies.
The Minister also instructed the relevant officials to take necessary steps to provide prompt solutions to the problems that have arisen in exporting fish.
The Minister who asked the Director General of NAQDA about the problems experienced in freshwater fish farming instructed her to take necessary measures to find prompt solutions to them.
Present in this discussion were officials including Secretary to the Ministry Ms. Indu Ratnayake, Director General of Fisheries Department Susantha Kahawatta, Director General of NAQDA, Ms. Ashoka and a group of public representatives from the sectors related to the fishery industry.
