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Jaffna fishers to be involved as stakeholders

08 Jul 2021

  • Fisheries Ministry responds to protest over Chinese company

  • Chinese JV seeks permission for Poovarasanpatti harvest farm 

By Pamodi Waravita   The Fisheries Ministry will be implementing a programme where local fisheries communities are involved in harvesting sea cucumber in Poovarasanpatti in Kilinochchi, following concerns raised by Northern fishermen about a Chinese joint venture (JV) company that has allegedly taken over many acres of sea land to harvest sea cucumber at Poovarasanpatti, thereby severely inhibiting the livelihood of fishermen. Fisheries Ministry Media Secretary N.S. Edirisinghe told The Morning that Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda would be inspecting the Poovarasanpatti sea cucumber nursery soon, after which the Ministry would be implementing a programme that would involve the locals in the venture as an income generating scheme for them. “This same company operates a sea cucumber hatchery at Ariyalai, a few kilometres away from Kavutharimunai, for which the United National Front-led Government had granted permission. Permission has only been obtained for the Ariyalai Hatchery. They have now sought legal permission to operate a sea cucumber harvest farm at Poovarasanpatti,” said Edirisinghe. National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) Chairman Jayantha Wijeratne had confirmed to The Sunday Morning on 4 July that the Authority has only given permission for a hatchery, and not for a farm. He also noted that the Authority would conduct an investigation into whether the project was approved by the Authority, and if so, whether the project is adhering to the approved conditions. Local fishermen have previously alleged that the said company poses an unfair competition to them, as it operates on a large scale using modern technology. Sea cucumber is primarily used as a luxury seafood item and as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicines. In Sri Lanka, sea cucumber fishery currently occurs in Kalpitiya, the Puttalam Islands, Trincomalee, Pottuvil, and Kalmunai. Although the harvesting of sea cucumber is banned in India, license holders are allowed to operate in Sri Lanka. –––      –--    


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