Small Offshore Fishing Boats in Shri Lanka

REPORTS - BOBP/REP/61

Small Offshore Fishing Boats in Shri Lanka

by
G. Pajot
Sr. Fishing Technologist

Executing Agency: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Funding Agency: UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

BAY OF BENGAL PROGRAMME; Madras, India 1993

Table of Contents

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PREFACE

The Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP) was invited in the early Eighties by the Shri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries to evaluate the offshore fisheries and the fishing craft being used in it. The evaluation was done by a consultant, O Gulbrandsen, Naval Architect. Subsequent to this evaluation, BOBP helped to develop and introduce two small multiday offshore fishing boats, the SRL-34 and the SRL-15.

When Shri Lankan fishermen began fishing further offshore, more and more boats began to disappear at sea. The BOBP was requested to provide assistance for studying the reasons for the disappearances and to help in making recommendations for the development of search-and-rescue facilities for the island’s fishermen. A consultant (U Hallberg) studied the facilities available and prepared a report which was submitted to the Ministry of Fisheries. Similarly, another consultant (E Dahle) studied the safety aspects of boat construction and prepared a draft of regulations for consideration by the Ministry.

This report summarizes BOBP’s assistance provided in offshore fishing boat development and related safety-at-sea aspects. The work started under the SIDA funded project “Development of Small-scale Fisheries” GCP/RAS/040/SWE and was concluded under “Small-scale Fisherfolk Communities” GCP/RAS/l18/MUL funded jointly by DANIDA and SIDA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REPORTS - BOBP/REP/61pdf

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BOBP TRIALS WITH SMALL MULTIDAY OFFSHORE FISHING CRAFT

2.1 The boats
2.2 Fishing gear
2.3 Operational arrangements
2.4 Fishing demonstrations
2.5 Modifications after trials
2.6 Fuel consumption
2.7 Results of fishing trials
2.8 Economic evaluation
2.9 Reactions of the private sector
2.10 Extension materials

3. OTHER INPUTS

3.1 Search-and-rescue
3.2 Information seminar on offshore fisheries development
3.3 Safety at sea

4. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS

4.1 Resources
4.2 Offshore fishing boats
4.3 Fishing gear and their operation
4.4 Fish preservation
4.5 Safety at sea
4.6 Search-and-rescue (SAR)

FIGURES AND MAPS

1 . Map of Shri Lanka
2. Driftnets used in the trials
3 . Drift-longlines used in the trials
4 . General arrangement of SRL-34 (final version)
5 . General arrangement of SRL-15 (final version)
6 . Fuel consumption tests with 3½-tonner and SRL-15
7 . Monthly catch of SRL-34 and SRL-15

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

I. Chronology of activities and events
II. SRL-34 - Operational data : May-November 1987.
III. SRL-15 - Operational data : November 1987-October 1988

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