| Project update December 2006 |
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After 24 months of building Oru Catamarans of various sizes, 19’ Outboard Motor boats Project Fish and Ships has completed all of the small and medium boat orders from our donation appeal and our commitment to rebuild the entire Galle Trawler Fleet that was distroyed in the tsunamis now completed with the launch of the last boat iminant.
ASL has built over 200 boats: (that is a rate of 10 boats per month on average) Fish and Ships has been one of the most rewarding projects we have attempted but also one of the most challenging. During the later part of 2005 we had 3 boat yard, building at full pace in Tangalle, Weligama and Galle. Along with each boat ordered, we supplied an outboard engine (inboard for Trawlers) and the majority of larger boats received fishing nets. Our team had to investigate every individual application and be 100% sure that the fishermen were deserving before we allocated a boat to them. There have been many unscrupulous attempts to trick us but we feel confident that we have foiled any dubious applications.
We have now closed our small boat yard in Tangalle and Weligama. Adoptsrilanka liaised with the Fisheries Department and started monitoring the amount of boats that were being built by other NGO’s towards the end of 2005. It became clear that this sector was being over subscribed and the waters around the coast were being over fished. Our Donors were notified and we have advised them to redirect their donations on to other deserving projects like supplying engines and nets.It is very disheartening to see some NGO’s still building new 19’ boats that litter the coast and are surplus to demand. We consider this unscrupulous and disempowering to the local boat building industry. It is very disheartening to see some NGO’s still building new 19’ boats that litter the coast and are surplus to demand. We consider this unscrupulous and disempowering to the local boat building industry.
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Launch of further 3 day trawlers |
Objective
It is estimated that in 5 minutes on December 26th 2004, 50% of the registered fishing fleet in Sri Lanka was damaged or destroyed. Most of these boats have now been repaired and others were replaced. The aim of Project Fish and Ships was to provide materials, expertise and the provision of new boats to enable the fisherman to get back to sea. Adoptsrilanka have met all of our objectives and this project is finally drawing to a close.
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| 11-foot oru catamaran |
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28-foot oru catamaran |
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19-foot open day boat |
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Single-deck trawler |
These boats were given to fishing co-operatives in order to ensure impartiality and only after a thorough assessment of the pre-tsunami situation.
Ongoing activities
We are currently highlighting the outstanding problems to the Sri Lankan Government hoping they will take more responsibility in promoting and supporting the Fishing Industry. Our team has negotiated a deal with the Fishing Ministry to provide nets for all of our Trawlers.
The entire Galle Trawler Fleet was destroyed in the tsunami. ASL made a commitment to the fishermen to replace every boat; we set about trying to find a site to construct a boat yard close by the harbour. We had to create the moulds and work with the constraints of the weather conditions. We managed to salvage some old engines and we bought new reconditioned ones for the rest.
On the 5th of June 2006, ASL celebrated the Launch of the new fleet. The ceremony was quite an occasion attended by the Minister of Fisheries and several other high ranking officials. The Sri Lankan press were out in force, Kandian Dancers lead the ceremony in colourful style and all round it was a great day for the Sri Lankan Fishing Industry; the founder of Adoptsrilanka Geoffrey Dobbs and the General Manager Sharron Ward gave certificates of ownership to each fishermen. Special thanks go to the Lister Foundation who sponsored this project. (See pix below)
We are continuing our appeal to the international community to Adopt a Ship to help replace OTHER trawlers destroyed in the tsunami SITUATED FURTHER DOWN THE COAST. Adopt a Ship can be done in the following ways: through www. Adoptsrilanka.com or sending a donation to Children in Crisis: www.childrenincrisis.org.uk
- Paying for a single deck trawler US $14,000 (built in our own bespoke boatyard at Galle).
