Fisheries: A NorthEast industry in turmoil

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 April 2006, 00:44 GMT]
Fishing ban along a significant portion of 349 km long Northern district coasts, displacement of fisher families, harassment of fishermen by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) along shores and by Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in shallow and deep sea have plunged the fishing industry in NorthEast in turmoil. Fisher families live in perpetual uncertainty even while struggling to meet ends meet on a daily basis. Unfulfilled assistance of help promised by successive Sri Lanka Governments have helped prolong the suffering of these families, Vadamaradchy Fisheries Consortium spokesperson said.

Statistics of fisher families disclosed in a report released by the Jaffna branch of Fisheries commission are as follows: 73,209 members from 16,799 fisher families make up 12% of the total population of Jaffna district.

Of this total 7,375 individuals from 773 families in Thalayadi and 1152 families in Aaliyavalai, live in Liberation Tigers controlled areas in Vadamaradchy east. The remainder, 65,834 individuals from 14,774 fisher families live in Sri Lanka Government controlled areas of Jaffna district.

During the 18 year period of war from 1983 to 2001, Northern fishermen have lost fishing equipment including boats, engines, nets and other fishing accessories costing an estimated Rs 3382 million (US$34m). The fishing industry in the Northern district lost an additional Rs 1699m (US$17m) in ice plants, vehicles, guest houses and homes belonging to fishermen.

Although the Sri Lanka Government gave assurances to the fishing industry in the North that it will compensate these losses, fishermen have received little help during the last two years, Jaffna Fisheries Consortium officials said.

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has banned fishing in significant portion of Northern coast line. Concertina wires extend along the shorelines and into lagoons to remind the fishermen of the Security Forces' edict. From Mathakal Jetty west of Kankesanturai to the village Akkarai in Thondamannar, a coast line of nearly 24 km is completely prohibited for fishing. 2km adjoining Nagarkovil SLA camp also is banned for fishing.

In Jaffna islets area, 2 km shore lines in Mandaitivu, another 2 km in Neelankadu area in Karainagar and one Km near Karainagar Jetty is under total ban for fishermen.

600 fisher families in Senthankulam near Mathakal and 900 fisher families who live between Thondamannar and Aathikovilady in Valvettiturai have been agitating for lifting of fishing ban in their areas. Many families have since relocated to LTTE controlled areas. Although the SLN announced removal of ban along the Thondamannar-Aathikovilady, other pass restrictions still remain and only 40 families have restarted fishing in this stretch of shoreline.

Meanwhile, December 2004 tsunami destroyed nearly Rs 1153m (US $11.5m) worth of boats and fishing equipment belonging to Jaffna district fishermen. Other property losses of fisher families have not been estimated. Sri Lanka Government under a replacement scheme has disbursed close to Rs 700m funds through several NGOs.

Several hundred Valvettiturai fishermen who lost trawlers equipped for deep sea fishing still await receiving help to restart their trade. Only one family has received a trawler size boat replacement. This trawler is anchored in Valvettiturai jetty as the owner is unable to obtain a pass to use high power outboard motors.

Even in areas where fishing is allowed, SLN insists on fishermen getting special passes issued by the SLN. The difficulties in producing required documents and photographs have severely inconvenienced many fisher families in obtaining these passes. SLN refuse to accept National IDs or previous IDs provided by the assistance of local authorities.