An ocean of possibilities

The humanitarian mission in the North is drawing to a close, with the Tigers confined to a very small area of land. The civilians are leaving the Tiger dominated area in droves, although the LTTE is trying its best to stop the influx by shooting and killing them.

The regaining of territory and the exodus of civilians from LTTE dominated areas is a victory for the Forces and the people.

But one should not think in terms of land territory alone when appreciating the commitment of Forces. The Tigers or rather its naval wing the Sea Tigers had huge camps along the Northern coastline and their boats regularly engaged in gun running and human trafficking in these seas. The 2002 ceasefire gave them a free run in the Northern and Eastern seas.

The Navy and the Army, with the support of the Air Force, have destroyed nearly all of these LTTE facilities during the ongoing operations.

The Navy destroyed several LTTE boats just a couple of days ago and earlier, it sank nearly 10 vessels carrying weapons for the Tigers. Thus the Forces have effectively ended the Sea Tigers’ run. The entire ocean surrounding Sri Lanka can now be described as a terror-free zone.

This will be a boon for Northerners, especially fishermen and others depending on the sea for their livelihood. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asserted that along with the eradication of terrorism and the consequent expansion of the sea area, the nation’s youth, inclusive of those of the LTTE, could now be fruitfully engaged in the uplift of the Motherland.

The Government has already lifted fishing restrictions in Jaffna and some other areas in the North. It will only be a matter of time before such restrictions are eased in the newly liberated areas as well.

With the liberation of the North and the East from ruthless terrorists, there has been a marked improvement in the fisheries sector. Due to security reasons, certain restrictions had been imposed on fishing activities in the past.

Quite apart from the eradication of LTTE terrorism on the high seas, Sri Lanka’s ocean area has been enhanced exponentially - 23 fold - under international maritime conventions. This is indeed a vast area that we cannot exploit with the present resources.

Sri Lanka has a poor record of exploiting its ocean resources. It is well known that foreign trawlers poach in our territorial waters. Sri Lankans often cynically say that fish netted in Lankan waters find their way to Sri Lanka again in canned form. Indeed, Sri Lanka spends billions of rupees every year on fish imports.

Considering that we are surrounded by a vast ocean, this is ridiculous, to say the least. Fish is a really nutritious food enjoyed by people from all communities and religious groups and lower prices for locally harnessed fish will enable more people to consume it.

The authorities must devise strategies to harness the marine resources of this vast ocean area. An effective Coastguard, distinctly different from the Navy, is a must to protect our oceans.

The Navy too will have to continue its role as a defender of the seas. More multi-day trawlers equipped with the latest equipment including GPS, radar and fish finding Sonar must be distributed among fishermen.

As the President has pointed out, we hope the new Ocean University will play a vital role in harnessing the potential of our expanded ocean area by producing youth qualified to helm various sectors of the fisheries industry. Preference should be given to the sons and daughters of fishermen, as there had been a tendency by the younger generation to move away from fisheries and even agriculture for white collar jobs in the cities.

LTTE youth undergoing rehabilitation could also be involved in this process in addition to youth from other parts of the country. The Ocean University should conduct advanced research into the extent and availability of fish resources around the island.

The authorities should seek the assistance of Sri Lankan oceanographers and fisheries experts now domiciled abroad to develop the fisheries sector. The concept of sustainable fishing should be introduced, so that certain species are not hunted to extinction.

It is also vital to strengthen the tsunami warning system around the island. This system should be introduced to the newly liberated Northern coastline as well. It is vital to educate fishermen on the workings of such a system and how they should be prepared for any such eventuality.

As the saying goes, there will be an ocean of possibilities for the fisheries sector in the years ahead. The planning process must start now so that the country can reap the benefits without delay.