EU ban has badly affected fisheries industry: Amaraweera

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development, Mahinda Amaraweera, said the fisheries industry had suffered several setbacks in the past, due mainly to the European Union (EU) ban on the export of fisheries products to those countries.

He said they would be holding discussions on the issue with representatives of the European Union (EU) in this regard in a bid to get the ban lifted in the first quarter of 2016. An EU representative was scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on Friday (13). “As soon as the ban on fisheries exports to the EU is lifted, we will begin working towards improving the investment opportunities that exist in the fisheries sector by inviting foreign as well as local investors to invest in both fresh water and sea water aquaculture projects,” Minister Amaraweera told during an advisory board meeting held at the fisheries ministry on Sunday (8). He said special attention should be paid to protecting endangered species such as sea leeches and lobsters and to implement projects to breed them in specially constructed hatcheries.

“Whales, sea pigs, dolphins, skate fish and turtles should also be protected and recreational fishing as a tourist sport should also be looked at,” he told the advisory board members who were due to re-convene in three months time to discuss the progress that has been made.