COLOMBO: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has granted a donation of Rs. 40 million to Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Ministry for the implementation of one -year program to raise awareness on international law in preventing Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by Sri Lankan fisherman and related stakeholders, a Ministry statement said.
The first session of this series of program commenced on Wednesday (28th Sept) at the Galle Face Hotel under the patronage of Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera with the participation of FAO representative to Sri Lanka Mrs. Nina Brandstrup.
The European Union (EU) in 2015 imposed a ban on Sri Lankan fish exports since the then government and the fishermen did not adhere to the warnings of EU on IUU fishing.
Minister Amaraweera expressing his views emphasized that the custom of consuming legally harvested fish should be established in the country. “Like all the European countries we should also act to deter illegal fishing. We need to gradually change the prevailing system of catching and selling any fish and consuming any kind of fish.”
Fish sold in markets at times are unfit for human consumption, the Minister pointed out. The Minister further said that the contribution of FAO in the program is a huge benefit to Sri Lanka. During this year Sri Lankan fishermen are require to be enlightened on IUU fishing since lifting a re-imposed ban on Sri Lankan fish exports would not be an easy task, he added.
FAO representative to Sri Lanka Ms. Nina Brandstrup stated that the FAO will extend every possible support to Sri Lanka in executing fishing activities legally and complied with the internationally accepted standards.
