Abstract:
Sri Lankan fisheries sector contributed nearly 2.5 per cent to the country's national
income which is a marginal increase by 0.6 compared to the GDP of negative 6.1% in
2003. Through out the Sri Lankan coastal line there are about 175,000 fishermen
actively engaged in fishing industry, providing nutritious food, which comprises 57% of
total animal protein (NARA 1998) consumed by the Sri Lankan.
In the current context the fisheries sector is faced with a greater challenge for it has lost
almost 80% of its material resources. Over 24,000 boats were destroyed and generally
hundred of small businesses and entrepreneurs were badly affected through damage to
property, premises, stocks, machinery as well as employees who were displaced, injured
or perished. Apart from the tsunami catastrophe there are other burdensome issues
such as technological gap, improper management in all types of activities, economic
recession, political changes, cultural and attitude changes pertaining to the fisheries
sector.
It is clear that the fisheries sector is faced with new global challenges to uplift the
livelihood of the devastated fishermen back to normalcy whilst increasing the level of its
operations. Therefore, the research has been carried out to identify the appropriate
technology and the key stakeholders of the fisheries sector to introduce a new
framework with following objectives; Ascertain the history of technological development
in Sri Lankan fisheries sector; develop a framework by integrating key stakeholders to
eradicate poverty through technology in fisheries sector; identify future technology
development directions in the fisheries with respect to ICT usage and find solutions to
eradicate poverty through technology to improve the fisheries sector.
The data collection was mainly based on interviews conducted in NARA, Department of
Fisheries and Aquaculture and the questionnaire based interviews were done in rural
fishing villages in Hambantota district. The research work enabled the identification of
prevailing technology gaps in the Sri Lankan fisheries sector in comparison to the local
and global best practices. Further, an investigation has been carried out to identify
integration of key stakeholders to have smooth resource flow. Based on identified
reasons, several strategies in overcoming the poverty of rural fishermen and
conceptualized framework have been suggested.
