The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has handed over two specially designed climate-resilient fishing boats, SL20 and SL23, and 30 modified fish display stalls to the Ministry of Fisheries in Sri Lanka.
The 6.3 and 7-meter-long boats, designed for coastal fishing operations, prioritize the safety of fishers and are built to be capsize-resistant, addressing the challenges posed by climate change, including more frequent and intense storms and cyclones. These climate-resilient boat designs, adhering to FAO/ILO/IMO standards, are made freely available through the FAO Fishing Vessel Design Database.
Generously funded by the Norwegian Government-financed FAO Trust Fund project on “Responsible use of fisheries and aquaculture resources for sustainable development,” the boats represent an investment of approximately LKR 9 million. The handover ceremony also marked the introduction of 30 model fish display stalls across 15 fisheries districts in Sri Lanka, designed to minimize post-harvest fish quality loss by maintaining high-quality and safe conditions for fish retail selling.
A recent study by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) revealed suboptimal maintenance practices among fish retailers in Sri Lanka. The model fish display stalls, developed by the Cey-Nor Foundation under the Ministry of Fisheries, aim to encourage proper retail selling practices to uphold fish quality until it reaches the consumer.
Expressing gratitude for FAO’s support, Minister of Fisheries in Sri Lanka, Douglas Devananda, emphasized the significance of the initiative in ensuring the safety of fishers and improving the overall quality of fish in local markets. Nalin Munasinghe, Assistant FAO Representative for Programmes, underscored FAO’s dedication to fostering sustainable practices and supporting local communities in Sri Lanka. The delivery of climate-resilient boats and model fish stalls reflects FAO’s commitment to enhancing the resilience of the fisheries sector in the face of climate change challenges.
The handover ceremony took place at the Cey-Nor Foundation and was attended by key figures, including Minister Douglas Devananda, State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha, Assistant FAO Representative for Programmes Nalin Munasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries Indu Ratnayake, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources S. J. Kahawatte, and Chairman of the Cey-Nor Corporation Dr. Dulan Hettiarachchi.
