Exit interviews and Fisheries

I was up at 4am to get the train back to Batticaloa this morning. I don’t use alarms – I just tell myself to wake up which usually works. I got up, showered and negotiated my way across Colombo then had 9 hours on the train. I just wanted to do it in daylight once. Not much to report – it’s more peasanty than the view from the road where you tend to get bigger houses. I saw a Kingfisher.

OMG! HQ are knickers twisted as I have come back to Batticaloa so soon and we have EXIT interviews to sort out. Crikey! They haven’t bothered with me for months and now they all want hours of time. Send me the forms! How long does it take to close a bank account, get my dongle deposit back, pay back any money outstanding, review 5 months?

Part of the concern is J1 who has the concentration of a gnat for all things non-military. I had decided to find him an English speaking trishaw driver and give him a list of all the really nice shops in Colombo which would entertain him for a few hours as he can spend. Otherwise he has to set up circuits in the garden. He and his mate did this at the hotel pool while I was showering after my swim. They have some ‘beat the time’ macho thing going on that involves skipping, swimming and doing things with pilates type rubbery bands. I adore J1. He has matured into such a showman. His first love was acting and he was very good at it. He still says it was the most useful A-level he ever did in terms of a preparation for life. It’s not what you really think inside that counts, but what you project and he can role play at the drop of a hat – nicely, not to hurt or denigrate people and also just because he likes to be looked at!

Even Diya, unkind boy, is all mournful ….. but Hazel we thought you were staying for a year ……

The white witch sent me the email for my pilates classes back home …. Sean the horse is well and his sarcoids have not flared up in the hot weather.

Fisheries

There are 25,726 fishermen in Batticaloa District, 223 fishing villages, 130 Rural Fisheries Organizations and 5,053 existing fishing crafts. In the District there is 105km length of costal line, 4,633.1 square Km large inland water bodies, 127 landing sites, 1 fishery harbour (Valaichenai) and 1 registered boat yard. In 2011, 42,265 M.T of fish were caught which was 8.75% of national fish production that year.

The District Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources has an on-going programme of 7 projects with allocated funds of 46.62 Rs.million. These include the construction and improvement of offices and community facilities, equipment to make Maldives fish, fishing gear, glass boats, micro credit facilities and training.

They also have a suggested programme of 17 projects over the next 5 years which continue to maintain infrastructure, resource equipment and offer training programmes. They are clear about where potential funds might come from.

Issues, Challenges and Opportunities

The level of fishing catch continues to make a steady increase. The main threat to the sustainability of fishing in Batticaloa District is illegal fishing. Over the last ten years, out of the 112 species in the lagoon, 28 have been destroyed or disappeared. Although monofilament nets are banned in Sri Lanka, they are still being used. Smaller and smaller fish are making their way to markets. When illegal activity is reported by honest fishermen, they have suffered verbal and serious physical injury. The lack of harvest is seen as the main reason for illegal fishing.

A second problem is insufficient ice production and the fibre glass boxes to keep the fish in. Ice and correct storage would ensure the quality of the fish and reduce the 30% post- harvest losses.

Finally, not all local fishermen have life jackets. Over the last year there have been 7 unnecessary deaths due to a lack of a life jacket. The wearing of life jackets is to be made a statutory requirement in January 2014.

Development Plan Focus

None of the current work programmes or proposals address what they are identifying as the biggest threat to long term continued growth and development – illegal fishing. There is a need for a concerted public relations political and practical campaign to educate people about the sustainable use of this natural resource. Literature has been produced but needs disseminating. Illegal fishermen are being caught, but are avoiding prosecution by drawing down favours. There needs to be a hotline for tips about illegal fishing set up that protects informers.

Other priorities should be increased ice production and the subsidy of fibre glass boxes and life jackets.

Research: The small business opportunity of turning the surplus of fighter fish in the Rugam tank into fish feed.

Other priorities identified by the Planning Department

• Fisheries

1. Construction of fish preservation and processing factories (Tin fish, dry fish etc) to get the maximum benefit from fish production.
2. Establish fingerling hatchery to maintain the fishing stocks in tanks.

Batticaloa District Development Plan DRAFT 2013