French Development Agency to finance programme to rehabilitate Sri Lanka’s fisheries harbours
The French Development Agency (AFD) has reportedly expressed its willingness to finance a programme aimed at rehabilitating the existing fishing harbours in Sri Lanka and to enhance their management as well as that of aquatic resources.
The feasibility study of this programme was launched on 15 February during a visit to the Galle Fisheries Harbour by Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Eric Lavertu, AFD Country Director Martin Parent and Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Secretary Ruwanchandra.
The harbours of Galle, Beruwala, Puranawella and Kudawella located in South-Western Sri Lanka, are to be targeted by this programme. This first AFD intervention in Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector will mainly aim at improving the quality of products for export, without increasing the fishing effort.
According to report, it will primarily focus on the improvement of operating methods and equipment between the landing and the first sale of the catches, within the port area.
The dynamic generated on the export value chain is expected to have a knock-on effect on the products intended for the national market. Besides, the full success of this project requires an effort from the private sector to modernise the fleet and improve the management of catches on board.
Reports further stated that to reach the project objective, the following actions have been identified: (i) invest in two to four ‘green’ fishery harbours, including infrastructure and equipment rehabilitation, ports reorganisation; energy consumption reduction, and enhancement of on-site waste management; (ii) improve harbours operation from a technical, monitoring, financial and regulatory perspective; and strengthening of environmental impacts management; (iii) support the sustainable management of aquatic resources through a better monitoring of the marine population and by improving the products’ traceability. This program represents a first investment estimated at euros 120 million.
The feasibility study, which is funded through a EUR 650,000 grant, will be carried out by a consortium led by COFREPECHE. This nine-month study will confirm the beneficiary harbours, the program’s cost, its structuration and the associated work schedule.
OSL take:
The rehabilitation of fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka would give a boost to the country’s fisheries industry. Sri Lanka already enjoys the facility of exporting fish to the EU and other foreign markets as well. Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector has the potential for development given the local as well as international demand. Therefore, there are many investment opportunities in many sectors covering Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/22022019/Z_4 |