(IntraFish) Sri Lanka wants to raise its annual tuna catch to 130,000 metric tons through the use of more long liners.
Sri Lanka is aiming to raise its annual tuna catches to 130,000 metric tons and its per capita fish consumption to 21 kilograms by 2013, reports Daily News.
“The per capita fish consumption in the country has already increased up to 15 kilograms with the ending of the war which prevailed in the country for nearly 30 years, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.
In 2009, the annual fish consumption of a person was only 11.4 kilograms, but it had increased by 38 percent during the last two years, he said.
Sri Lanka hopes to increase catches by using long liners, which can reduce post harvest pollution, as there is less damage to the fish, he said.
It also helps to retain the nutritional, quality and freshness of the harvest as well. “The multi-day fishing vessels in our country are already using the long line system" he said.