• SOC informed of import-for-re-export co. brings disease causing shrimp/prawn 

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis, Gamini Waleboda expressed displeasure that although surveys of marine resources within 24 nautical miles from the coast have been conducted in other parts of the island, the relevant Government institutions have not conducted such a survey in the North.

The Committee recently convened a meeting in Parliament with the participation of the Secretary to the Fisheries Ministry, the Government institutions under the Ministry’s purview, officials including heads and representatives of the North and East fishing community. The fishermen’s representatives of the North pointed out that the illegal encroachment of the Northern coast by Indian fishermen has severely affected their livelihoods. It was disclosed that the damage to marine resources due to fishing using deep trawling methods by Indian fishermen has not been assessed so far. Considering these facts, the Committee instructed the Fisheries Ministry Secretary to consult all the relevant parties regarding the prevention of illegal fishing activities in the North and to submit a report containing the necessary recommendations to the Parliament as soon as possible.

Furthermore, there was a discussion regarding the permission given to import fish to Sri Lanka for re-export. Waleboda pointed out that the imported fish would be re-exported with added value and that a portion of it would be sold locally. He argued that by doing so, the country will lose taxes and that the reputation of Sri Lankan fish in the international market would also be affected. Meanwhile, the officials revealed that a certain company involved in importing and re-exporting fish is bringing in a type of prawns that can cause diseases, adding that it has started to affect the entire shrimp production in Sri Lanka. Waleboda raised a question regarding the decision taken to allow the import of fish affecting the fishing industry and instructed the Ministry Secretary to call all the relevant parties immediately and to take a decision in this regard.