Fishing fortunes

Thursday, 9 May 2013 00:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Uditha Jayasinghe

A change of tide has the Government confident a European Union (EU) warning on illegal fishing in the island will be retracted soon, paving the way for Japanese and Chinese investors to double fish export income to around half a billion US dollars, an official said yesterday.

Extensive lobbying has been carried out since the warning was issued in November 2012 with the EU officials indicating that it will withdraw its “yellow card” in June, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Rajitha Senaratne told media.

The warning was issued to Sri Lanka and seven other countries over Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Minister said the EU had complained about 13 cases during 2010 where Sri Lankan fishermen had intruded into territorial waters of other countries. However, he insisted that the numbers had dwindled to just one in 2012 and zero in 2013.

Senaratne was upbeat on the progress, insisting that he had worked hard to ban illegal fishing methods, including bottom trawling nets that deplete fish habitats and usage of dynamite, and had imposed stronger penalties for fishermen who illegally fish in seas belonging to other countries.

Legal amendments that impose heavy fines of around Rs. 1.5 million, confiscate boats and impose prison sentences are to be presented before Parliament to be passed into law shortly to deter illegal fishing, he added. As many as 257 cases had been filed against fishermen using such illegal methods.

Under the latest rankings, Sri Lanka has been rated as having 47% compliance with international sustainable fishing regulations.

“I have had extensive discussions with European Commissioner Maria Damanaki, who is in charge of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and she has indicated that the EU is satisfied with our progress,” he said, emphasising on the need for Government departments to keep close links with the EU on this matter.

Currently Sri Lanka earns around US$ 250 million annually from fish exports, out of which 48% are earnings from tuna. Last year Sri Lanka captured 486,000 metric tons of fish, according to Government records.

Europe usually purchases around 38% of Sri Lanka’s fish exports but this amount has fallen to 33% last year with Japan increasing its stake from 37% to 47% and the US buying 17%.

Senaratne remarked that agreements have been finalised with two companies from China and Japan to increase deep sea fishing, which has seen slow growth due to lack of equipment. Currently Sri Lanka only has around 300 deep sea fishing vessels and these are only capable of catching 10-20 metric tons of fish at one time.

“Four deep sea fishing boats from China are expected in Sri Lanka within the next two weeks. Eventually we hope the number will increase to around 20 and we are having discussions with other Chinese companies to enter the market as well.”

Japan’s leading fish producer, known as ‘Tuna King,’ Kiyomura Corporation Chairman Kiyoshi Kimura will also start a company in Sri Lanka soon, the Minister assured. Eventually he too will operate around 20 boats.

Both companies will be registered in Sri Lanka and will operate under the Sri Lankan flag. Once they are in operation the Sri Lankan Government expects fishing revenue to double, hitting US$ 500 million.