Small Fishers Federation Lanka

# Fishing Community

Fishing Community

The fisher communities are one of the poorest and marginalized communities in Sri Lanka both economically and socially. The standard of living of the fisher population is low. The ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources acknowledges the poor conditions of the fisheries sector and fisher community. At present the Ministry of Fisheries intends to reform the fisheries sector. Among others, the following livelihood problems and issues are stated as reason for the reforms.

v      Fisheries sector is still under-developed, unscientific and without a proper management

v      Fish resources is under threat of illegal and unauthorized fishing

v      No adequate contribution to economy; no professionalism

v      Low per capita fish supply

v      Fisher families are in abject poverty. No savings for future generation.

v      Fisheries insurance is minimal: health, housing, education is not covered.

v      Fisher community suffers from acute unemployment & insecurity

v      No resource protection

v      Sea erosion is severe & dangerous; Coastal & sea pollution is high

v      No bank or credit facilities; Infra-structure inadequate; Administrative rules are

v      out dated and not fisher-oriented Fishers’ participation for management is

v      Inadequate

FISHERIES DATA

DIVISION (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR )	FISHING VILLAGES	FISHING FAMILIES	FISHING POPULATION	NUMBER OF FISHERMEN	FISHING CRAFT
DIVISION (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR )	FISHING VILLAGES	FISHING FAMILIES	FISHING POPULATION	NUMBER OF FISHERMEN	MECHANIZED	NON MECHANIZED
COLOMBO	38	2021	8856	2406	205	262
KALUTARA	33	3417	15084	3797	440	563
GALLE	155	4493	21074	5452	543	705
MATARA	86	5561	27323	7777	985	698
TANGALLE	53	4921	24927	5713	962	743
KALMUNAI	258	15150	70175	15495	577	921
BATTICALOA	172	18274	74307	21034	651	2793
TRINCOMALEE	116	11673	42856	18246	1523	1412
MULLATIVU	31	4218	16468	3844	468	203
KILINOCHCHI	40	5107	18563	3897	10	406
JAFFNA	104	14867	63709	14558	827	2066
MANNAR	35	6991	28041	9346	1177	563
PUTTALAM	108	10504	46389	9983	2318	1787
CHILAW	39	8222	37151	9995	1870	1118
NEGOMBO	82	11400	52600	16624	1649	1579
TOTAL	1350	126819	547523	148167	14205	15819

Fisheries Sector Contribution to the National Economy

Direct Livelihood	150,000
Indirect Livelihood	100,000
State Employment	5,000
Private Sector Employment	400,000
Per Capita Fish Supply	17.6 kg
Export Earnings	100 million US$
To GDP	2.7%

Fish supplies 60% of the total animal protein in take of the population.

Source: website Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (2006) / these figures represent coastal fishery divisions. It excludes data of inland fishery divisions and some coastal fishery divisions are not mentioned.

# Problems

# Fisheries Productivity

# Jobs, Skills & Credit

# Education

# Health

# Re-structuring Programme

Beneficiaries of SFFL

Objectives

# Operational Management

# 2007 Annual Reports

Developed @ Small Fishers Federation Lanka

The Federation