Fulfilling another request of the fisher community, State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi has decided to take steps to reduce the fish imports. The Minister said that such a decision has to be taken with the objective of safeguarding the local fishermen and fisheries industry. Accordingly, it has been decided to strictly enforce the import restriction during the period from September to when fish harvest is high. Various groups engaged in fisheries industry and representatives of the fisheries associations, who had met with Minister Wedaarachchi on several occasions have pointed out that the local fisherman has faced many problems due to the unlimited import of fish and related products. During the discussion held last week with the owners of multi-day trawlers, the fishermen representatives pointed out that face various problems since they are unable to sell their harvest due to the imports of fish. The fishermen at length explaining their problems to the Minister pointed out that the fish stocks imported annually in large scale for re-exportation and value-added production are sold in the local market hurting their income from fish harvest. The owners of the multi-day fishing boats emphasized that the importation of fish also in the high harvest season from September to December has worsened their problems. According to the statistics of the Fisheries Department, the quantity imported from 2018 has been 84,463 metric tons. A sum of 32,726 million rupees has been spent for this purpose. Dried fish, sprats, Maldive fish, canned fish and live fish (ornamental fish) have been imported. “Such a large amount of money flowing out of the country is a serious situation. By empowering the fishermen to protect the local fisher folk and raise fish harvest and by providing the necessary facilities to make the maximum contribution to meet the fishery needs of the country, a large amount of money can be retained within the country,” the State Minister said. Minister Dilip Wedaarachchi emphasized focusing special attention on obtaining fish from local fishermen to produce value-added products and on production of quality fish for export. He pointed out the need to import fish only during the period when there is not sufficient quantities of fish available locally for the production of value added seafood items for exports. State Minister Wedaarachchi stated that these concerns will be presented to the government and necessary steps will be taken expeditiously.