Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera said the government is planning to develop the inland fisheries industry as the freshwater fisheries industry remains unaffected from the issues the saltwater fisheries industry is currently confronting.
The Minister said the targets to increase the total freshwater fish production up to 150,000 metric tons by the end of 2016 from the 77,000 metric tons recorded in 2015.
"Therefore, we have made arrangements to develop fresh water fisheries industry by breeding fish in all the inland reservoirs which is nearly 10000 in number," he said.
The Minister made these remarks at an award ceremony held recently to recognize freshwater fishers and officers associated with the freshwater fisheries industry in the country.
"Miridiya Waruna", the first ever award ceremony for inland fishers was organized by the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister Amaraweera said the purpose of the award ceremony is the enhancement of the fisheries industry and appreciating the service of fishers and officers associated with the fisheries industry will highly contribute to such a development.
"We hope to initiate aquaculture projects associating the inland reservoirs and 116 lagoons will also be developed. I have already commenced the development program of "Wewak Samanga Gamak" with the purpose of uplifting the fresh water fisheries industry," said the Minister.
He said the award ceremony will be conducted annually and next year it will be held under the patronage of the President.
Ministers Dayasiri Jayasekara, Daya Gamage, Susil Premajayantha, and Ravi Karunanayake, Secretary to the Ministry Mangalika Adhikari and the Chairman of NAQDA Upali Mohotti also participated in the event.
