It is not always easy trying to get accurate information on how many boats operated out of Unawatuna bay itself, let alone the surrounding area. Neither is it easy to find any 2 matching estimates as to how much fishing contributed to the local economy, nor how many families relied on this as their primary source of income. What is clear is that the majority of boats in Unawatuna and up and down the coast were destroyed on Boxing Day, and the subsequent collapse of the tourist industry has left more families looking for alternative means of generating an income.
With this in mind FoU have funded seven new fully equipped fishing boats through the Adopt SriLanka “Fish and Ships” scheme. Adopt SriLanka will manage the building and fitting out of the boats, and allocate them to a fishing co-operative in the area to ensure maximum benefit is derived from them.
We have purchased three open 18 foot fibreglass boats with outboards, and four “Oru” catamarans.
The naming has been carried out by some of our donors, with the final names being:
Newark Advertiser, Vinehall 1, Vinehall 2, Bedgebury, Magnus, Maheson and Trent.
Adopt SriLanka are currently assessing where the most need is before finalising delivery of the boats.
For more information on the Project Fish and Ships" scheme, please see the Adopt Sri Lanka site: http://www.adoptsrilanka.com/