Fishermen living along the western shores have urged the government to find solutions and pay compensation for the loss of their only source of livelihood caused by the leakage of chemicals from the recently burnt container X-Press Pearl vessel, stressing that they were unable to fish because the chemicals that leaked into the water had seriously damaged the fishing nets, and killed the fish. They also pointed out that many government officials visited the place, yet they did not care to solve their problems.
Warnakulasuriya Solomon – Fisherman said “We do fishing using nets. Once we lay the nets on the ocean, the debris from nearly consisting of 30-40 bags of debris containing plastic pallets from the X-Press Pearl vessel were entangled onto the nets and we had to cut nearly 4 to 5 nets to clean the debris on the fishing nets. Somehow we managed to pull in our nets to the boats with the help of a few other nets and equipment. As soon as we headed to the shore, research officials from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) forcedly confiscated fishing nets with their contents. They did not take permission from me, nor did they take down the number of the boat, but forcibly took away all my fishing nets. Yet there has not been any response in this regard from them. Our nets had been severely damaged due to chemical contamination, and the nets are beyond recovery and seem black as if it is burnt. Although many officials from the government side pay a place visit, they have not been keen on resolving this issue. And we are eagerly looking forward to some sort of relief of compensation from the government side.”
“Not a single parliamentarian or Minister has looked into the matter. Why are they being so unfair to the distressed fishermen? Due to the effect of the X-Press Pearl vessel, the whole village has been finding it difficult to go on their daily livelihood. Whenever we throw the nets, the nets are full of debris from the burnt ship. We have facilitated these nets and boats for our use by taking loans from Moneylenders and banks with interests. How are we going to be able to pay our loans back? Nearly 350 families have been distressed due to this. We request not to subdue the fishermen for this type of condition. When I called the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) to inquire about the situation, then they informed us they will provide a solution and compensate in this regard by coming Monday. Even if they were to give compensation, they did not even take down our names, or the identifying numbers of boats. They confiscated our equipment by force.”
Pathmanathan Balasingham – Fisherman said “My boat 0575MBO, a week ago we went in this boat and laid the nets. Due to the contamination from the X-Press Pearl vessel, the fishing nets have been severely damaged and burned. A net is valued at around Rs. 200, 00/=, and I usually lay around fifteen fishing nets. I have been at a loss of nearly Rs. 400.000/= worth of goods and I have no one to take this complaint to. Although, the media discuss the above matter with me, yet I have not been compensated even a single rupee from the government or any other relevant authorities. I have many boats, yet due to the fear of possible damage, we do not go into the sea, and the boats are lined up along the shore. You might be able to witness the number of boats which are on the shore. On other days, these boats will not be on the shore but would have been gone to sea to lay nets. Out of the fifteen nets which were owned only eight are at hand since the other nets were cut down into the sea due to the damage caused by the toxic chemical from the X-Press Pearl vessel. The following morning, in the presence of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) officials I went to the sea to collect my fishing nets, but they were beyond repair, so we had to return to shore leaving out our damaged fishing nets.”
“The fishing nets are damaged due to some toxic chemical which is afloat in the sea. The sea current keeps moving towards either side to the Southern parts of Matara and the Western coast of Chilaw in which directions the sea current moves water has been contaminated with debris in that particular region. We faced the damage since not a single fish or fawn stay in the region. Fishermen villages are in great distress to find their daily livelihood. And the fishermen and their families are famished since there is no way of going into their livelihood. Since they are at a loss of their equipment.”
Source A24