Daily Mirror: 28/12/2005"
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources (MFAR) presented a Master plan for the reconstruction and development of fisheries anchorages and associated facilities along the coast of Sri Lanka at their monthly joint FAO/MFAR coordination meeting last week.
The master plan, financed through FAO’s Italian Civil Protection Department funded project, lays out a comprehensive program for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of tsunami damaged fisheries infrastructure.
The tsunami killed over 35 000 people, displaced 1,000,000 and affected over two thirds of the island’s coastline. Besides the tremendous loss of life and injuries, the tsunami caused extensive damage to property including fisheries infrastructure, disrupting fisheries based livelihoods.
According to joint FAO-MFAR assessments, 10 fishing harbours out of twelve, 37 anchorages, and 700 fishing landing centres were damaged and destroyed and need various degrees of rehabilitation or rebuilding.
“This master plan is a tool for investors, donors, government agencies and NGOs ensuring better coordination, avoiding gaps and overlaps and maximizing the utility of financial resources” said Sigurd Sigurdurson, FAO Infrastructure specialist.
The plan is designed to ensure that assistance to infrastructure development is carried out in a planned and orderly way, preventing ad hoc development. It also provides expert designs for the various structures needed at each site.
“As many fishers have moved away from the coast, it is especially important to have improved facilities for them to use to store their equipment” said Piyasena, the Director General of the Department of Fisheries.
The master plan improves on the existing damaged infrastructure. Sri Lankan fishers will benefit from better storage facilities, improved amenities and facilities and better conditions for marketing their produce. Incomes should be increased due to improvement of quality of fish due to improved, more hygienic conditions, reduction of waste and decreased post-harvest losses.
FAO’s Italian Civil Protection funded project is rebuilding and rehabilitation of 5 sets of facilities, two in Matara at Badewatta and Kotegoda, and three in Trincomalee district at Eachchlampattu, Pallanthoddam and Samuthiragama.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources (MFAR) presented a Master plan for the reconstruction and development of fisheries anchorages and associated facilities along the coast of Sri Lanka at their monthly joint FAO/MFAR coordination meeting last week.
The master plan, financed through FAO’s Italian Civil Protection Department funded project, lays out a comprehensive program for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of tsunami damaged fisheries infrastructure.
The tsunami killed over 35 000 people, displaced 1,000,000 and affected over two thirds of the island’s coastline. Besides the tremendous loss of life and injuries, the tsunami caused extensive damage to property including fisheries infrastructure, disrupting fisheries based livelihoods.
According to joint FAO-MFAR assessments, 10 fishing harbours out of twelve, 37 anchorages, and 700 fishing landing centres were damaged and destroyed and need various degrees of rehabilitation or rebuilding.
“This master plan is a tool for investors, donors, government agencies and NGOs ensuring better coordination, avoiding gaps and overlaps and maximizing the utility of financial resources” said Sigurd Sigurdurson, FAO Infrastructure specialist.
The plan is designed to ensure that assistance to infrastructure development is carried out in a planned and orderly way, preventing ad hoc development. It also provides expert designs for the various structures needed at each site.
“As many fishers have moved away from the coast, it is especially important to have improved facilities for them to use to store their equipment” said Piyasena, the Director General of the Department of Fisheries.
The master plan improves on the existing damaged infrastructure. Sri Lankan fishers will benefit from better storage facilities, improved amenities and facilities and better conditions for marketing their produce. Incomes should be increased due to improvement of quality of fish due to improved, more hygienic conditions, reduction of waste and decreased post-harvest losses.
FAO’s Italian Civil Protection funded project is rebuilding and rehabilitation of 5 sets of facilities, two in Matara at Badewatta and Kotegoda, and three in Trincomalee district at Eachchlampattu, Pallanthoddam and Samuthiragama.
