Arni H. Helgason, the country director for the Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) in Sri Lanka, announced last week that he would be working together with the Sri Lankan Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ministry to develop and promote fisheries in the South East Asian country.
The fishing programmes, which are being launched in Sri Lanka, were developed following a study conducted in 18 countries and will be based on a common framework accepted by all the countries which participated in the study.
The training programmes have already been launched, according to Helgason, and attempt to educate fishing trawler workers on modern equipment and methods used to fish.
Helgason claims the ICEIDA plans will strengthen the fishing industry in Sri Lanka mainly through infrastructure and development projects. These projects are already underway in five other countries.
In Sri Lanka, the infrastructure facilities are located in the fishing harbors of Puttalam, Gampaha, Kalutara and Matara districts but there are plans to develop a further 18 harbours in the districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.
One piece of technology which will be used to aid the fishing industry are satellite systems. Satellites will be able to help fishermen to conserve their fuel and focus their fishing efforts on areas where large numbers of fish have been located.