Northern fishermen boycott demanding new gear

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 March 2005, 18:00 GMT]
Vadamaradchchi Fisheries Societies Sunday decided that their members will not fish for commercial purpose on a large scale until their tsunami destroyed fishing boats, engines and fishing gear are replaced by the Sri Lanka Government. Currently only a few fishermen go out fishing using catamarans and small boats repaired locally, fisheries sources said.

Around 1300 fishing boats were destroyed in tsunami disaster in Vadamaradchchi coastal areas from Thondamannaru in the Vadamaradchchi north to Munai in Point Pedro.

But the government has not provided any compensation for the loss of boats and fishing gear and also failed to provide new ones up to date.

Some damaged boats had been repaired with the assistance of fisheries societies. International agencies have supplied about one hundred new boats to some affected fishermen, sources said.