Valuable species of fish vanishing from our seas

The escalating use of illegal fishing nets in the seas off Kalpitiya has resulted in the wasteful killing of between 20,000 - 30,000 kilos of fish and poses a grave threat

Antony Fonseka, president of 'Our Lady of Sorrows Fisherman's Organization', based in the island of Battalangunduwa, said urgent action needed to be taken, as the practice posed a grave threat to fisher families in the area.

He added that as late as last Friday (23), groups of men had used illegal nets to harvest unnaturally massive hauls of Yellow-fin Tuna Kelawalla

- and Hurulla.

Mr Fonseka explained the procedure adopted by these fishermen which he called 'disastrous' :

"They dive into the sea and lay fine mesh nets. These nets are weighted down with metal and sand bags. Resultantly all fish in the area get netted in their thousands."

He explained that as a result of using these ille- gal nets, valuable species of fish -Ranno, Oolawo, Kabaru, Payinthi- are disappearing from seas in the area.

Fishermen complain that officials are turning a blind eye to the fact that fishermen using these illegal methods of fishing were bringing in thousands of kilos of fish ashore.

Assistant Director of Fisheries Puttalam District, A. A. Wickremasinghe, claimed he could not arrest these individuals as "they only bring the fish and hide the fishing gear.

"Without the gear I have no legal authority to arrest them" he said. He added however that persons using these illegal methods could be arrested if caught while in possession of the gear. He emphasised that to do this he needed the help of the Navy.