The first-ever Freshwater Fisher Information System - ‘Infish’ for Sri Lanka and Asia was officially established on Wednesday. The National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) began operations.
According to the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry sources, the main objective of establishing this system is to uplift the living standards of the freshwater fisher community.
All information related to the freshwater fisheries industry in Sri Lanka including the number of freshwater fishermen, their daily fish harvest and income, and savings will be included in this system.
The system was ceremonially opened by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
Currently, around 10,000 inland reservoirs are available in the country and around 45 inland reservoirs will be regulated under the first phase of the project. The NAQDA plans to include all other reservoirs into the system by the end of 2018.
He said the government is planning to develop the inland fisheries industry as it remains unaffected by the issues the saltwater fisheries industry is currently confronting.
A special app has been created for this purpose and a tablet computer and other equipment valued at Rs. 195,000 will also be provided to each freshwater fishermen’s unions. The government has allocated Rs. 8 million for this project.
NAQDA Chairman Upali Mohotti and Director General Nimal Chandraratne also participated.
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