| Description |
The Northern Province Sustainable Fisheries Development Project will support investments to revive the fisheries sector in the conflict affected coastal districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Killinochchi. Investments are required to (i) rebuild large scale infrastructure, such as harbors, anchorages, and associated facilities, (ii) introduce new fishery technologies, (iii) expand aquaculture sustainably (iv) strengthen community based organizations and related institutions, and (v) develop economic activities for households headed by women, war widows and single women. The projects impacts are aligned to improve (i) the nutritional status and food security, and (ii) incomes of fisher communities. The outcome will be fisheries production in the Northern Province sustainably increased. The proposed outputs will be: (i) climate resilient infrastructure developed and operational; (ii) aquaculture developed; (iii) entrepreneurial skills, market links and credit access for local communities including women are strengthened; and (iv) management of coastal and fishery resources improved. |
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy |
The Northern Province, that bore the brunt of the 30-year conflict which ended in 2009, is showing signs of economic revival following development projects initiated by the government, development partners, and other agencies. The provinces' contribution to the country's gross domestic product rose from 3.2% in 2008 to 3.6% in 2013. The incidence of poverty in the province declined from 30% in 2010 to 10.9% in 2013. Despite these positive developments, there are wide disparities within the province and the poverty incidence in Mannar and Mullaitivu districts still remains high at 20.1% and 28.8% respectively. This compares to 6.7% nationally. The monthly per capita household income at Rs. 8,330 is the second lowest among the nine provinces following the Eastern Province, which was also impacted by the conflict. Agriculture, fishery, and livestock are the mainstay of the economy of the Northern Province, and in 2012 comprised 19.6% of the provincial gross domestic product. Of the 1.2 million people in the Northern Province, a majority (85%) lives in rural areas and is engaged in fisheries and agriculture. Prior to escalation of the conflict in 1983, the Northern Province which has 40% of the coastal belt, recorded a marine fish catch of 75,740 t accounting for 40% of the national total. In 1995, it dropped to an all-time low of 4,500 t. Following end of the conflict, with the lifting of security restrictions on access to coastal waters and on-going support towards the revival of this sector, the production increased from 13,840 t in 2008 to 55,640 t in 2013. Nevertheless, it still remains below the 1983 production levels. T Since 2009, the government and development partners have supported the recovery of the fisheries sector, through provision of boats, engines, nets, rebuilding infrastructure, re-establishing the cooperative societies, and provision of credit. Non-conventional aquaculture, such as production of sea cucumber, sea weed culture, and crab fattening, that have high export and income earning potential, are currently being piloted. Improvements to the roads and railways have reconnected the Northern Province with the rest of the country. Improved connectivity has resulted in greater access to markets and promoted private sector investments. Many public and private banks have opened offices in the province enabling access to financial services. Despite these developments that have created an enabling environment to develop the fishing industry, there are still needs in essential infrastructure and capacity strengthening of the fishery societies and related institutions in the North. While Sri Lanka has 20 major fishery harbors, the Northern Province has none. Due to lack of harbor facilities and multi day boats, the fishermen are unable to engage in deep sea fishing. To further develop the fishery sector in the province, investments are required to (i) rebuild large scale infrastructure, such as harbors, anchorages, and associated facilities; (ii) introduce new fishery technologies; (iii) expand aquaculture sustainably; (iv) strengthen community based organizations and related institutions; (v) develop a fisheries management and zoning plan to ensure resources are not over exploited; and (v) develop economic activities for households headed by women, war widows and single women.The government has requested ADBs support to help rebuild the fisheries sector in the Northern Province. |
