News - Too many boats spoil the fish

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Too many boats spoil the fish

By Vanessa Sridharan

There is an excess of fishing boats in the Hambantota area due to poor coordination between NGOs which distributed fishing boats and equipment and local authorities, officials in Hambantota said.

While many fishermen thanked the benefactors for helping them to regain their livelihood after the tsunami destroyed their boats and fishing equipment, many have also now begun to complain that the sudden increase in boats and fishermen has created problems.

Two fishermen with their boats on the Hambantota beach.

“I have forwarded all complaints and concerns to the Fisheries Ministry and it is up to those in authority there to bring some order and resolve this problem,” District Secretary/ Government Agent M.A.Piyasena said.

Some of the complaints by fishermen were that boats were un-seaworthy because their quality was not good since most boats were donated without first consulting the fishermen or the authorities on what was actually suitable.

“After the tsunami the number of fishermen increased since boat hands were also given boats as they had registered themselves as fishermen, creating much confusion” Mr. Piyasena said.

Ownership cards were issued by the Fisheries Ministry to fishermen without consulting other authorities which resulted in a sudden increase in fishermen in the area.

A fisherman holding up his ownership card.

“Because the system adopted in issuing ownership cards was not methodical, NGOs representatives who came to the scene donated a boat to each fisherman who had an ownership card creating an increase in boats and fishermen, leading to disputes between fishermen themselves and with the authorities” Mr.Piyasena said.

The fisheries inspector who was in charge after the tsunami has been transferred to Galle, and was unavailable for comment.

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