FAO News and Events RSS Feed

FAO Indonesia Newsletter: Continued dedication to building back better

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0100

Thanks to multi-donor contributions exceeding US$ 20 million, FAO support has been directly assisting some 74 500 tsunami-affected families, thereby benefiting over 370 000 individuals through a total of 17 projects.

Integrated programme for the rehabilitation of the fisheries sector in the tsunami-affected-affected districts of Hambantota, Ampara and Batticaloa

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Thanks to generous support from the Government of the Italian Republic FAO assisted 39 800 tsunami-affected individuals in Sri Lanka, with over 30 activities covering the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock sectors.

President of Sri Lanka attends ceremonial handover of FAO distributed inboard engines

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Colombo. As part of a ceremonial handover organized by the Ministry and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR/DFAR), the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, personally took part in the distribution of 40 inboard (IB) engines to beneficiaries residing in the most vulnerable fisher communities.

The gift of the tsunami

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:00:00 +0100

by John Kurien (Fisheries Co-Management Advisor OSRO/INS/601/ARC Fisheries & Aquaculture Project FAO of the United Nations) - Written in June 2007 following a visit to the west coast of Aceh Province on an ARCUN- FAO Project Inception Mission. This report appeared in the Sunday Magazine of the Indian national newspaper 'The Hindu' which has a 1.5 million circulation on 29th july 2007

UN reviews post-tsunami relief for Indian fisherfolk

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Source: IANS
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) Monday began a two-day workshop on the effect of the December 2004 tsunami on fishing in India's east and west coasts and the outcome of economic relief strategies for this industry in the last two years.

Highlights of 2005 global capture production as reported to FAO ( Tsunami effect)

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:00:00 +0100

Tsunami causes rp55.6 billion loss to West Java fishery sector

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 9 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Bandung, W. Java (ANTARA News)
Losses in the fishery sector in West Java province caused by the tsunami which struck the province`s southern coastal areas on July 17, 2006 have reached 55.6 billion rupiah, a local official said. Head of the West Java provincial fishery office, Darsono said here on Monday that the losses were caused by damage on fish auction centers, fish storage centers, fishing boats, fishing nets, fishery village cooperative units and fish ponds. Two fish storage centers destroyed by the tsunami were PPI Cikidang in Ciamis district and PPI Ujung Genteng in Sukabumi district, he said after meeting with West Java provincial Legislative Assembly`s commission-B which oversees economic affairs.

Tsunami victims wait for tide to turn

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 3 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Suherdjoko and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, Cilacap
More than two weeks after a tsunami battered the southern coast of Java on July 17, many survivors are still waiting for assistance from authorities. In two of the hardest hit areas, the West Java towns of Ciamis and Tasikmalaya, hundreds of families were displaced from their homes and are still living in makeshift shelters. In Ciamis, 1,391 families are living in shelters set up in six separate locations. A lack of funds to build them more permanent accommodations could mean they will have to live in the shelters for at least another three months.

About 2,000 fishing boats damaged by tsunami in Indonesia

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Xinhua
About 2,000 boats of local fishermen along the southern coast of Indonesia's Java province were damaged by the tsunami triggered by an earthquake on Monday, an Indonesian official said on Wednesday.

UN teams travel to areas hit by earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia as death toll mounts

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Source: UN NEWS CENTRE
United Nations aid teams joined Indonesian Government and non-governmental efforts in assisting survivors on the island of Java today after an earthquake killed at least 37 people, with 60 more missing after a tsunami triggered by the quake hit the coast.

UN attempts to provide food to thousands affected by Java tsunami

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Reporter: Lynn Bell
TONY EASTLEY: The United Nations World Food Program and the International Red Cross are trying to get food to thousands of people affected by Monday's Indonesian tsunami. The World Food Program estimates that about 30,000 people have lost their homes in the Pangandaran area of southern Java alone. Three field kitchens have so far been established to feed the hungry survivors.

Indonesia: Western Java earthquake and tsunami Information Bulletin No. 1

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.

Tsunami Destroyed 1,234 Fishing Boats in Central Java

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 1 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Indonesia Relief
Semarang, Republika – Around 1,234 fishing boats destroyed in tsunami affected area of Central Java: Cilacap, Kebumen, and Purworejo. Of the destroyed boats, 120 units are 10 – 20 GT fishing boats, while the remaining are small boat or fiberglass boat equipped with motor engine.

FAO helps empower women in Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Empowering women has been the focus of training-workshops held jointly by FAO and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. These workshops are giving women in Sri Lanka new hope and a sense of self worth. Most of all, participants have been able to realize their potential and enter income-generating activities back home.

FAO workshop helps develop boat building skills in Aceh, Indonesia

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 1 Jun 2006 12:00:00 +0100

FAO conducted a hands-on technical training on boat engine alignment for boat builders working in FAO supported boatyards. Under the generous support from the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (Agencia española de cooperación internacional - AECI), FAO trained 10 boat builders in proper inboard engine/shaft alignment, allowing continuous power transmission to the propeller. The trained boat builders will be able to pass on these new skills to the more than 50 other boat labourers working in FAO’s boatyards.

FAO and AIRO distribute fishing vessels to fishers in Aceh

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 12:00:00 +0100

FAO delivers five high standard and fully equipped Acehnese fishing vessels to fishers in Kreung Raya in Indonesia. The vessels will help fishers return to the sea and resume their livelihood means by recovering lost capital and provide a productive asset for income generating activities. The high quality vessels will last longer than traditional boats and allow fishers to go further into the sea, bringing in fish catches that have an increased market value.

One-year-later Regional Workshop on Rehabilitation of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Coastal Communities of Tsunami Affected Countries in Asia (CONSRN)

Derek.Staples@fao.org — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Information on the Workshop

FAO distributes nets and outboard engines in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Fishing nets and outboard engines provided by the Governments of Belgium and Japan and the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission were distributed to fishers in Sri Lanka. This equipment will allow fishers to return to the waters and restore their way of life.

Italian Civil Protection provides motorcycles to support fisheries cooperatives in Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO and MFMAR distributed six motorcycles to six fisheries cooperative societies in Galle this week. Fixed with ice boxes, the motorcycles will be used to transport fresh fish to neighbouring communities, allowing fishers to generate income to support their families.

Many areas in Aceh still critical as tsunami anniversary approaches

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 12:00:00 +0100

Emphasis shifts from relief to reconstruction.
With the first anniversary of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami fast approaching, FAO warned today that many areas on the west coast of Aceh, Indonesia, were still in a critical condition. “Half a million people in Indonesia are still living in temporary shelter. Entire communities were destroyed,” according to Alex Jones, FAO’s post-tsunami operations coordinator. There was a danger that international attention and donor support would come to an end before the recovery was complete, he said. “Sustainable recovery requires a five to ten year effort.”

Sustainable recovery requires long-term effort in tsunami zone

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Q&A with Alex Jones, FAO’s post-tsunami operations coordinator.

Communities reborn: much progress visible in year after tsunami

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Local resolve, many helping hands make the difference.
For the fishers and farmers working along the Indian Ocean, extreme weather has long been an adversary. During the monsoon, roads become flooded and impassable, and seaside communities are isolated from markets for their products. Deep-sea fishers brave storms in fragile craft to bring home their catch and rice farmers suffer through seasons without rain. Drinking water is often scarce.

FAO and MFAR distribute fishing equipment provided by Italian Civil Protection, Japan and Belgium

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 7 Dec 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Fishing equipment, which includes 49 outboard motors and over 2 000 fishing nets, were provided to 210 fishers in Matara, Sri Lanka to help fisher households regain their livelihoods.

Nutrition project reaches 1200 beneficiaries in North-East Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Under an ECHO funded project, FAO has provided nutrition enhancing training to increase micronutrient, protein and energy intake for meals using locally grown horticulture, rice and fish.

Japan and Belgium contributions help fishers resume livelihoods

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The Governments of Japan and Belgium have contributed funds for fishing equipment and boat engines under two separate FAO projects. Long fishing lines are included to catch tuna, which fetches prices up to 200 percent higher than tuna caught in nets, due to its increased freshness. The engines allow boats to return to the seas and with the fishing equipment, help fishers resume their livelihoods.

FAO's boat building training programme ensures fisheres receive safe, high quality boats

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO is helping fishers improve their skills in boat building and selection and use of good quality timber through its boat building training programme. FAO has introduced several boat building principles so not only are the boats of a high standard but the fishers are also safe at sea.

Increased marine safety standards priority in Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 12:00:00 +0100

In order to safeguard the lives of fishers in Sri Lanka, FAO is helping to establish safety standards for fishing boat construction and operation.

FAO, Belgium and Japan collaborate to boost the resumption of livelihoods for fishers in East Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 6 Oct 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO is working closely with fisher communities in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka to help restore their way of life. Funding from Japan and Belgium supported 248 fishers through the distribution of 2 628 fishing nets and 90 boat engines, enabling fishers in this community to restart fishing and income generating activities.

Somalia: helping rebuild a shattered nation

FAO Fisheries Department — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Support to ensure a sustainable peace and improve livelihoods.
FAO's emergency activities in Somalia include ongoing efforts to help fishing communities affected by last December's devastating Indian Ocean tsunami rebuild their livelihoods. FAO is providing fishing gear and other inputs and is helping affected communities form fishers' associations and other organizations to manage and distribute these inputs.

Understanding people's livelihoods key to success

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Understanding the complex nature of the communities and groups targeted by the FAO's activities is essential to ensure the success of our assistance. FAO conducted a four-day workshop which looked at using livelihoods approaches and analysis to ensure the participation of marginalized and vulnerable people and enable them to influence their lives in the post-tsunami reconstruction process.

FAO Project Manager / Fisheries Adviser (P5)

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO Fisheries Department expects to start the implementation of a project for Rehabilitation of Livelihoods in the Fisheries Sector Affected by Tsunami and Earthquakes in Indonesia within the next two to three months. The project will contribute to the coordinated and sustainable reconstruction of the small-scale fisheries sector in Aceh (NAD) Province and Nias Island through assistance to the coordination of the rehabilitation process, support to the restoration of assets and livelihoods, and the promotion of sustainable fisheries management. For this project, FAO Fisheries Department is now seeking a Project Manager / Fisheries Adviser.

FAO and ECHO provide nutrition training in Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 8 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Training on how to enhance micronutrient, protein, and energy intake for meals using locally grown produce, rice, and fish was given to agriculture and fisheries instructors in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka from 26-28 July.

FAO, Italian cooperation launch redevelopment effort in tsunami-hit Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 4 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

A workshop was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 29 July to consolidate planning tools for the distribution of fishing inputs and longer term support for the development of sustainable fisheries-based livelihoods in 14 communities.

P.H.R.S. Lindula receives fishing nets from Japanese Embassy and FAO in Galle

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFAR) distributed close to 900 fishing nets and 67 engines to tsunami affected fishers in Galle, Sri Lanka. This net and engine distribution is part of a project funded by the Government of Japan which provides fishing inputs to all tsunami affected districts in Sri Lanka.

Support and equipment for fishing and crop production provided to restore livelihoods

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 4 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO has partnered with the Thai ministry of agriculture, UNDP and civil society to move forward much needed support and basic equipment for boasting livelihoods and incomes through sustainable farming and fishing activities in Thailand’s coastal zones affected by the tsunami.

More UN tsunami-recovery efforts announced for Sri Lanka, Indonesia

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

As part of continuing efforts to help coastal communities recover from the devastating effects of last year's Indian Ocean tsunami, United Nations agencies today announced the distribution of fishing equipment in Sri Lanka and strategies for the reconstruction of ports in Indonesia

FAO helps Indonesian Government develop aquaculture strategy

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Before the tsunami hit, brackish water ponds (tambaks) provided income generating activities to inhabitants in coastal villages in Aceh Province. FAO is helping the Indonesian Government develop a strategy to re-establish the aquaculture industry and help thousands of villagers regain their livelihoods.

Tsunami : Aceh workshop to develop strategy for sustainable aquaculture rehab

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Japan funded project provides fishing gear in Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO distributes 1000 fishing nets and 100 outboard motors to tsunami-affected fishers in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The gear will be used to fish sardine and mackerel and allow fishers to rebuild their livelihoods.

FAO distributes fishing gear to communities on Nias Island, Indonesia

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Local fishermen on Nias Island, Indonesia, have received fishing gear from FAO thanks to support from the Government of Japan. The distribution of fishing gear is considered a top priority to get fishermen with sea-worthy boats back to earning a livelihood as soon as possible.

FAO warns of imminent over-provision of small fishing boats

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 4 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

FAO and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Aquatic Resources warn that there is a risk that too many fishing boats will be provided and could result in over fishing and long-term damage to coastal fisheries.

FAO AND CEY-NOR REPAIR BOATS TO ENSURE RAPID RESUMPTION OF FISHERS’ LIVELIHOODS

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 3 Aug 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has repaired over 3400 boats in Sri Lanka. These repairs will allow nearly 12000 fishers to resume their livelihoods after last December’s tsunami destruction. According to government and FAO estimates, 54 percent of the total fishing fleet was either made un-seaworthy or was totally destroyed by the tsunami.

TSUNAMI - A Report to the Nation - Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh

FAO Fisheries Department — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 12:00:00 +0100

From Tsunami Relief to Rebuilding Lives

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Having delivered millions of dollars in relief assistance to tsunami survivors in South Asia, Counterpart is now focusing on the really hard part – putting peoples' lives and their shattered communities back together.

Busy Days for Boat Builder in Lamteh - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Banda Aceh, Aceh Kita -- It wasn't easy for Muslim to forget how tsunami has struck his village, Lamteh, in Banda Aceh. ''All my brother, 8 people, die because of tsunami. Totally, I have lost 38 member of families,'' Muslim said, as he put the hammer in his hand down. The 25 years old man also lost a lot of colleagues: boat builder. Before tsunami destroyed the village, there are 6 people well known as head of boat builder group. Only Muslim and one other friend still alive. The other is still missing.

A bounty of fish in Sumatra after recent underwater seismic activity

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

By Nicolas Collebechi (http:www.fis.com) Although natural disasters are usually harmful and deemed counter-productive for human purposes, exceptions can happen. Sumatra's local fishermen have been blessed with profitable fishing as a consequence of the otherwise devastating affects of the 26 December Tsunami, and earthquake that shook the coast of their island last Monday, causing entire shoals of fish to literally rush towards the shore, Star Online reports.

Tsunami Disaster Fund - Where the money went? - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 5: The Government has disbursed more than 95 per cent of funds collected from the public for Malaysian victims of the tsunami which struck the region on Dec 26 last year.

Letter from NAFSO (National Fisheries Solidarity)

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The letter was written to mark 100 days since the tsunami hit Sri Lanka on 26 December 2004. The desperate plight of the affected people, many still in makeshift camps, is highlighted. Although aid has been pledged by many countries and promises of assistance have been made by the government, the lives of the people remain unchanged. They are not able to return to their livelihoods because of restrictions on entering the buffer zone and because fishing boats and gear have not been made available, despite pledges to provide these. Lack of consultation with fishing communities is also cited as a problem, as is the state of emergency in the country. The letter concludes with a plea not to forget the 600,000 victims of the disaster and to provide the pledged aid directly to the victims, without discrimination or further delays.

Vadamaradchchi fishermen receive boats, fishing gear - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a Sri Lanka Government registered NGO working exclusively in the NorthEast, under its integrated development programme with the funding of Norwegian TRO Monday morning handed over fishing crafts with outboard engines and fishing gear including nets and other accessories to 35 beneficiaries. Each fishing boat is estimated at about Rs.400,000, sources said

Rare turtles make surprise return to beaches battered by Asian tsunami

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

By Jan McGirk, South-east Asia Correspondent

Sales tax exemption for boats, fishing implements

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: The Indu CHENNAI, APRIL 1. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today announced the Government's decision to fully exempt boats and other fishing implements including outboard engines from sales tax (ST) to enable the tsunami-hit fisherfolk, who had lost their houses and other property, to acquire fishing craft at a low cost. She urged the Centre to provide total exemption for all materials used for rehabilitation of the tsunami victims from excise duty and service tax.

Teaming up to make good their livelihood

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: News Today After the 26 December tsunami attack, the fisherwomen community at Sadras Kuppam in Kalpakkam have been given alternative jobs thanks to M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and Venkateshwara Hatcheries Private Limited which had taken the initiative in supporting the fisherwomen community for a long-term livelihood. The fishing hamlet Sadras Kuppam situated between Kalpakkam atomic power installations and the township area had lost 26 lives during the tsunami attack. Apart from fishing there had to be other alternatives for the community to survive. It is in this process that MSSRF had come forward to support them through setting up of village knowledge centre, poultry estate and bio-shield programme.

Tsunami hit farmers could lose growing season

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Government of Sri Lanka POOR Sri Lankan farmers in tsunami-hit areas whose homestead gardens and small farms were destroyed now face losing a whole season's crops unless they are helped immediately, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said today in a press release. The first growing season since the disaster struck is due when the monsoon rains begin later this month. It is estimated that around 40 percent of the affected lands are suitable ready for cultivation.

Sea Tigers aid Amparai fisheries societies development

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The political divsion of the Sea Tigers Thursday donated eight hundred thousand rupees to the Federation Amparai District Fisheries Co-operative Socieites. The money was handed over to the President of the Federation, Mr. Ilayathamby. Thurairasah, by Ms. Thangeswary Kadiraman, Tamil National Alliance MP for Batticaloa at the political office of the Liberation Tigers in Thirukkovil. "The money is from our leader's special national fund. The donation is for building and strengthening fisheries societies on the southeast coast", said Mr. S. Ilakkiyan, head of the Sea Tigers' political division for Amparai, speaking at the brief function to present the money.

Three Months Out: A Progress Report on Tsunami Recovery

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 7 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: NGO latest. PORTLAND, Oregon – As the three-month anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami approaches Saturday, Mercy Corps and its local partners are reaching more than 390,000 people in affected areas of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India. The agency’s approach to long-term recovery is straightforward: keep individuals – farmers, fishermen, traders, laborers, merchants and their communities – at the center of its activities and let affected communities lead the way to an accelerated, durable recovery.

Post Tsunami witnessed people giving like never before to the needy

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 7 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Sudha S Namboothiry (Assistant Information Officer, PIB, Cochin) Post Tsunami witnessed people giving like never before to the needy. The Central Institute for Fisheries Technology, Cochin chipped in its share but in a different way. The people of the Azhikkal hamlet, Vypeen in Kerala got a fish kiosk as a New Year gift from Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT). The Institute had been working in this village with eighty fishermen families for the past two years. In this venture eight women chosen by Kumarananda Yogam Mahila Samajam were associated. This is only one of its kind as no where else in the country such a kiosk is opened in cooperation with a fisheries institute.

New boats help Malaysia's fishermen get back to sea

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) KUALA MUDA, Malaysia, 21 March 2005 - Experienced fishermen around the Kedah area of Malaysia, long accustomed to the normal hazards of the sea, recall trembling in fear on the night of 27 December 2004, as they heard shouts of another tsunami approaching their shores - one day after the disastrous waves which devastated countries around the Indian Ocean. Thankfully, the warnings proved false.

SOMALIA: Tsunami-affected fishing communities to continue getting aid

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: IRINnews.org

Fishermen worry about the future

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

by Anil Netto
Aid should go directly to the victims wherever they are in Malaysia Aziz Kassim, trader in Kampung Masjid. Picture shows a fisherman preparing to return to sea. In the midst of all the gloom around at the relief centre, Wan, a young fisherman in Penang who looks like he is in his early 20s, lies on the grass, looking up to the heavens. ‘‘A huge wave struck my boat and I was thrown out,’’ he recalls of the day the tsunami struck here. ‘‘I saw scenes from my childhood flash before my eyes before I was rescued by a passing boat. I am so thankful to God I am alive.’’

Centre plans to import fibreglass boats from Japan, China: Aiyar

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: The Hindu
NAGAPATTINAM, MARCH 19 . The Centre plans to import fibreglass boats from China and Japan to meet the immediate requirement of boats in the country, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said today. He said a delegation of officials visited Japan and China to study the possibility of importing fibreglass boats. It returned a few days ago.

The Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, revealed that projects to recover the affected fisheries and agricultural sectors of the country will soon be started, with foreign assistance.

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Abdulla Kamaaluddeen has revealed that projects to help the recovery of the fisheries and agricultural sectors will start soon. He made the statement in an interview with Television Maldives. He said that the projects are ready to be implemented, with the assistance of the World Food Programme, the World Bank and the Government of Japan. He said that final preparations for their implementation are currently under way. The Minister revealed that the Tsunami disaster caused a 25 million US dollar loss to the fisheries sector and about an 11 million US dollar loss to the agricultural sector. He said that it would take about three years to fully recover from the loss. The projects include short term projects with a duration of 6 months, and medium term projects between 6 months and 3 years. A long term recovery programme will also be set up. The Minister said that both in-kind and cash assistance is being provided to the people. He said that the programmes developed in collaboration with FAO and ADB will start as soon as administrative and other arrangements are finalised.

Tsunami aid shortfall over $4bn

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: BBCNews
Governments around the world have been urged to honour their financial pledges to the countries worst-hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

ADB President Calls for Transparency and Accountability in Tsunami Work as High-Level Meeting Opens

FAO Fisheries Department — Fri, 1 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (18 March 2005) - The distribution of the billions of dollars pledged for reconstruction after the Asian tsunami must be "predictable, transparent, strategic and effective," Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda said at a high-level coordination meeting on the disaster. "As the recovery effort now moves from initial relief to rehabilitation and reconstruction, it is essential to keep the world's attention focused on continued support and ensure that donor confidence in our efforts remains high," Mr. Kuroda said. "In coming together today, we re-affirm our commitment to coordinate our efforts to make the rebuilding process as efficient and effective as possible."

High-level Coordination Meeting on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance to Tsunami-Affected Countries

FAO Fisheries Department — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Tsunami: Malteser Germany and GTZ - Help for Fishermen in Sri Lanka

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: ReliefWeb
An international symposium to discuss the crisis being faced by the fisheries sector due to declining catch and profitability began here today. Inaugurating the three-day symposium, Fisheries Minister Dominic Presentation said the tsunami had adversely affected the fish catch in Kerala, causing great hardship to those engaged in fishing. He said studies should be undertaken on ways to augment the fish wealth. Cologne/Frankfurt. Today, Malteser Germany and GTZ ("Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit") have agreed by contract to realise two relief projects in Sri Lanka in close cooperation: the rehabilitation of five fishing villages in the south of the country and the provision of 200 fishing boats, boat motors and flues in the north east. "GTZ enjoys an outstanding reputation in Sri Lanka. They have excellent contacts and structures which enable them to provide a quick and long-lasting relief", Ingo Radtke, head of Malteser Foreign Aid Department, states. "With the help of these contacts and structures we shall be in a position to provide quick and efficient help for the people in Tangalle and Mullaitivu."

Fishing boats donated to Sri Lankan tsunami victims

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Foreign Minister Michael Frendo presented 10 new fishing boats complete with outboard engines and fishing accessories bought by SOS Malta, to a fishing community from the small village of Deruwela in the south of Sri Lanka on Sunday. During a meeting held on Monday in Colombo between Foreign Minister Frendo and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rahinda Majapakse, Mr. Majapakse thanked the Maltese people for their generosity and assistance offered to the victims of the tsunami. Prime Minister Majapakse explained that the acute phase was over and now the government of Sri Lanka was concentrating on development issues. He said that housing has been identified as a major need. Dr. Frendo and the Maltese delegation were able to witness the disaster created by the tsunami in the southern region of Sri Lanka as they were flown by a Ministry of Defence helicopter from Colombo to Matara. The delegation then drove to Deruwela and Galle, which are some of the most affected areas by the tsunami.

Assessment of Damage to Maldivian Coral Reefs and Baitfish Populations from the Indian Ocean Tsunami

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: ReliefWeb
Executive Summary In response to a request from President Gayoom of the Maldives, the Australian Prime Minister Mr Howard committed a team of Australian marine scientists to assist in the assessment of damage to the coral reefs of the Maldives following the 26 December 2004 tsunami. The team was formed by scientists from Australia's leading marine science agencies (CSIRO, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and James Cook University), and included expertise in coral and coral reef fish ecology, reef health assessment, reef management, reef and island geomorphology and baitfish assessment. AusAID provided co-ordination and funding for the team's mission, and an AusAID officer accompanied the team to the Maldives.

Last payouts for tsunami fishermen

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Mcot.org
PHUKET, Mar 16 (TNA) – Fisheries officials on Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket are speeding up the final compensation payments to the owners of fishing and tourist vessels affected by the December tsunamis, after having already paid out around Bt34 million. The payments will close a tragic chapter in the history of the resort island, one of the six Andaman provinces which sustain tsunami damage.

APRACA - FAO Workshop on Designing Effective Disaster-Related Rural Finance Strategies

apraca@ksc15.th.com — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Tsunami boat aid to Sri Lanka could backfire - UN

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Reuters.
COLOMBO, March 9 (Reuters) - Relief agency pledges of new boats for Sri Lanka's fishermen could backfire because too many new vessels will increase competition, reduce the average catch and endanger fish stocks, a United Nations agency warned on Wednesday. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said donor agencies have so far delivered or promised over 10,000 small canoes to tsunami-hit fishing villages, well over the nearly 7,000 small boats the government estimates were lost.

NGOs at FAO meet call for people-centred tsunami rehab strategies

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 21 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source:ICSF.
The NGO statement to the 26th Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 8 March 2005 has urged that all rehabilitation strategies following the quake-induced tsunami of 26 December 2004 should employ people-centred and participatory approaches, taking cognizance of the work that has already been taken up by NGOs and fishworker organizations.

Global Fund Grantees in the Tsunami Region

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The Global Fund for Women, an international network of women and men committed to a world of equality and social justice, advocates for and defends women's human rights by making grants to support women's groups around the world.

Borg's plan to send 300 boats to SE Asia approved

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: The Times. The fisheries ministers of the member states of the European Union have reached a political agreement in Brussels on plans proposed by Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg to send EU fishing boats to parts of Asia hit by the tsunami last December. The EU initiative still requires the go-ahead of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which meets on March 12 to report back on its assessment of local needs in the fishing and aquaculture sectors. Dr Borg will be travelling to Rome in order to participate in the FAO meeting.

WFP moves into reconstruction phase of the tsunami disaster

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: World Food Programme. With the tsunami-struck countries in Asia moving into the reconstruction phase, the United Nations World Food Programme is launching a series of post-emergency humanitarian activities that will help hundreds of thousands of survivors return to a stable, productive and independent way of life. Just over two months after the 26 December 2004 disaster, WFP is starting food-for-work projects in Myanmar to help people rebuild their communities. In both Sri Lanka and Indonesia, WFP has mapped out a strategy for providing nutritious food to the most vulnerable members of the population – orphans, widows, mothers who are the heads of their households, the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and schoolchildren. “This is where the real work begins,” said Kenro Oshidari, WFP Deputy Regional Director for Asia. “Just because this story has disappeared from television screens, it doesn’t mean that the problem has gone away. In reality, it won’t take weeks or even months, but years for many of these communities to recover.” “The challenges of rebuilding are monumental, but WFP stands ready to play its role for however long it takes,” Oshidari continued, noting that WFP would continue to monitor “shifting patterns of vulnerability” among the populations where emergency aid could still be required.

Trocaire to launch regional office in Indonesia to oversee tsunami response

FAO Fisheries Department — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Trócaire. Trócaire is to open a new regional office in Jakarta, Indonesia to manage its response to the tsunami in South East Asia last December. The organisation received more than €22 million from the Irish public through a national church collection and other donations in response to the tidal wave and has already committed more than €3 million to projects in the affected areas. Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen said the longterm management of the enormous amount of money would require an on-site team of development professionals.

Proposed IFAD Response in Asia

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 7 Jun 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Technical Background Document prepared for the Tsunami Session on 15 February 2005

Maldives faces opportunity in wake of tragedy

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Liqun Jin (president of the Asian Development Bank). Seeing dejected fishermen on Guraidhoo Island, one of the many tsunami-devastated islands, it was hard to find words of comfort for those who had been through such trauma. The giant waves had swept away not only their homes and boats, but also damaged a nearby resort where the fishermen had sold their catch to tourists. Though it is of little immediate comfort to those who have lost their assets, livelihood and market, the Maldives has an opportunity in the wake of the tragedy to encourage its sparse and scattered people to group together more for greater protection from natural disasters and for better access to social services.

Livelihoods Next Step to Tsunami Recovery in Thailand, says UNDP Official

FAO Fisheries Department — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Sourcer: UNDP. Restoring livelihoods and rehabilitating the coastal environment top the list of new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) post-tsunami initiatives in Thailand. These areas of long-term recovery support were announced today by Hafiz Pasha, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific, during his last stop on a two-week trip through Asian countries hardest hit by the tsunami. His trip included Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia ending today in Thailand, where he visited devastated Kao Lak communities in Phang Nga Province.

Tsunami nations need $1.5 bln for fisheries - UN

FAO Fisheries Department — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Reuters. BANGKOK, March 1 (Reuters) - About $1.5 billion will be needed to rebuild shattered fisheries in seven tsunami-hit countries in Asia over the next five years, a United Nations agency said on Tuesday. The huge waves, which left more 300,000 people dead or missing in the Indian Ocean region, also destroyed or damaged more than 111,000 fishing boats, putting a huge strain on countries where fishing is a vital source of food and income. "The seven countries in Asia hit by the tsunami need $1.5 billion to rebuild its fisheries sector and that needs to come from somewhere," He Changchui, a senior official at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) told a news conference.

Critical Assistance to Sri Lankan Communities - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Mercy Corps Mercy Corps staff is partnering with local organizations to mount a sustained, efficient response to Sri Lanka's greatest needs. Current operations include rebuilding of water and sanitation facilities, re-supplying schools with teaching materials and sports equipment, trauma counseling, clean up efforts and programming designed to revitalize local economies and livelihoods. Fisheries: Mercy Corps recently funded two new projects in the devastated city of Trincomalee: one provides small canoes, nets and business skills training to fisherman in an isolated area; the other expands cash-for-work programs to jump-start the local economies of three remote, multi-ethnic villages. Other recent operations in Sri Lanka include helping to fund the repair of seven large fishing boats, each with a crew of more than 60 people, providing materials to reconstruct two preschools in the Pottuvil area, where nearly 90 percent of the village's fishing fleet was destroyed and setting up 10 water distribution points in Arugam Bay to ensure families have access to clean water.

Statement made to the 'CONSRN' Regional Workshop on Rehabilitation of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Coastal Communities of Tsunami-Affected Countries in Asia

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source:ICSF Samudra Exclusive
We, the representatives of organizations working with small-scale and artisanal fishing communities in the countries worst-affected by the tsunami in Asia and Africa--communities that engage in beach-based operations and labour-intensive techniques, that live in marginalized socio-economic conditions and that depend on the coast for their survival--draw attention to the following: All rehabilitation strategies should employ people-centred and participatory approaches. Post-tsunami rehabilitation of the fisheries sector should be within the framework of sustainable and responsible fisheries, and should promote "employment-intensive" fisheries operations that contribute directly to poverty alleviation and food security.

Socio-economic considerations vital for ensuring livelihoods and access to food and resources

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The very survival and livelihoods of coastal communities should take centre place in rebuilding fishing and aquaculture in tsunami-affected Asian countries, FAO warned today. During a workshop at the FAO regional office in Bangkok, a consortium of fisheries agencies presented a draft blue print for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of fisheries and aquaculture communities and livelihoods in tsunami-affected Asian countries.

EU caps trawler aid for tsunami states

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Reuters. BRUSSELS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The European Union limited the number of second-hand fishing boats it would send to tsunami-hit states on Monday, seeking to ensure the vessels would not lead to over-fishing in the Indian Ocean. EU fisheries ministers said only small boats -- under 12 metres in length -- between five and 20 years old would be sent to Indian Ocean states to help them rebuild their fishing industries shattered by the Dec. 26 killer wave.

Tsunami: Rehabilitation of fisheries and aquaculture in coastal communities,Bangkok, 28 February 2005

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Consortium to restore shattered livelihoods in tsunami-devastated nations (CONSRN) is holding a two day workshop in Bangkok to formulate a vision and blueprint of a sustainable approach to the reconstruction of coastal fishing communities. As most of the tsunami affected countries are now starting to move from emergency into longer term rehabilitation and reconstruction processes, the aim of the workshop is to promote equitable and just livelihoods for poor communities that includes the sustainable management of the coastal resource base such as coral reefs and mangrove forests and associated fisheries on which a durable recovery will depend.

Tsunami island's missing listed

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

By Subir Bhaumik. BBC News, Port Blair, Andaman Islands. The government of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands has published a list of more than 1,500 people missing from a single island after December's tsunami.

Two months after tsunami only some UN agencies have received full funding

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Two months after a devastating tsunami wrought havoc on a dozen Indian Ocean countries and sparked an unprecedented outpouring of global relief aid, the United Nations reported today that while some of its agencies have received 100 per cent of their immediate flash appeal requirements, others still remain under-funded.

Transfer of EU vessels to tsunami-hit countries sets a dangerous precedent, says CFFA

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The European Commission's proposal to subsidise the transfer of decommissioned fishing vessels to tsunami hit countries will be discussed at the next Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 28th February. A favourable decision could open a back door to further subsidised vessel transfers to developing countries through "Fisheries Partnership Agreements" (FPAs) Despite warnings from FAO and specialised NGOs that such transfers are more likely to hinder than to help the hard hit small-scale fishing communities in these countries, the European Parliament today voted massively in favour of the EC's proposal. But is there more to this than meets the eye? The political gesture to provide aid through vessel transfers also pushes another agenda: to demonstrate that such transfers, under certain circumstances, could be beneficial to the recipient countries.

Move to Send Old Fishing Boats to Tsunami-Hit Waters

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

By Geoff Meade, PA Europe Editor, Brussels Euro-MPs have approved the sending of scrapped fishing vessels to tsunami-affected fishing communities. Now boats which have been forced out of commission in European waters as part of cutbacks in the size of the EU fleet could be restored and see new service in the Indian Ocean.

Tsunami damage over US $1 million in Yemen, according to UNEP assessment

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The effects of December's Asian tsunami on Yemen's shores will cost more than US $1 million, according to an initial assessment conducted by the Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Emergency Unit (EEU), together with an emergency mission of the United Nation's Environment Programme (UNEP). "We were lucky: our coasts are not populated, otherwise it would have been much worse," Abdulkhaliq al-Ghaberi, director-general of the EEU, told IRIN in the capital, Sana. Nonetheless, the huge tidal wave has severely affected the livelihoods of the fishing communities of Socotra, a unique island, and its archipelago, 350 km south of the mainland, close to the tip of the Horn of Africa, and the coastal region of al-Mahrah governorate in the east of mainland Yemen,bordering Oman.

TSUNAMI IMPACT: EU Advised to Keep its Junk

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Stefania Bianchi BRUSSELS, Feb 23 (IPS) - Environmental and development groups say European Union proposals to send European fishing boats due to be scrapped to tsunami-hit areas could do more harm than good. The European Commission, the European Union (EU) executive, announced last month (Jan.. 24) that it plans to transfer some 1,100 European decommissioned fishing boats between five and 20 years old to the seven countries hit hardest by the catastrophe -- India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The damage to the fishery industry in tsunami-hit countries has endangered the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families.

Tsunami's Economic Impact Worst For Maldives, Limited For Others

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The macroeconomic impact of the Dec. 26 tsunami disaster is estimated to be huge for the Maldives, but limited for Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and other affected countries, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank said Tuesday, Kyodo reports. In a joint preliminary assessment, the two Washington-based top multilateral financial institutions estimate the physical damage to total over $7 billion for Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and around 0.25 percent of gross domestic product for India without specifying a figure. The report states $33 million, as estimated by authorities, for Seychelles and includes no estimate for Somalia, where the IMF has had no official contact since the 1991 civil war.

International meet of peasants, fishers issues declaration on tsunami victims, rehab

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The Medan Declaration on Rebuilding Peasants' and Fisherfolk's Livelihoods After the Earthquake and Tsunami Catastrophes 85 participants from 11 countries representing around 20 organisations of peasants, fisher peoples and victims of the earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 that devastated countless communities and livelihoods in the regions of Asia and Africa, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that work with and support peasants' and fishers' organisations, came together at the "Regional Conference on Rebuilding Peasants' and Fisherfolk's Livelihoods After the Earthquake and Tsunami Catastrophes."

Rebuild Differently After the Tsunami, UNEP Advises

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

New Report Makes Recommendations on How to Reduce Vulnerability to Future Coastal Hazards Nairobi, 22 February 2005 – The destruction caused by the Asian tsunami to the environment offers an opportunity to rebuild in a manner that preserves natural resources for the benefit of the local communities who were hardest hit by the disaster, a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says. Vulnerability mapping is urgently needed to pin point coastal sites where homes, hotels, factories and other infrastructure should be banned or restricted.

Statement from the Regional conference on rebuilding peasants' and fisherfolk's livelihoods

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Statement from the "Regional conference on rebuilding peasants' and fisherfolk's livelihoods after the earthquake and tsunami catastrophes ", held at Medan, Indonesia We, representatives of organisations of peasants, fisher peoples, victims of the earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 that wrought immense damage and loss of lives in the regions of Asia and Africa, and also non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that work with, and support, peasants' and fishers' organisations issue today the following important statement regarding the recent catastrophes and their effects on the affected communities: We are extremely saddened by the fact that the twin catastrophes of the earthquake and tsunami have resulted in the loss of an unimaginable quantum of lives and property, including houses, livestock, farmlands, fish ponds, fishing gear and craft, all of which are directly related to the livelihoods and socioeconomic condition of the people of the tsunami-affected regions, most of whom are small-scale, artisanal beach-based, labor-intensive communities living in marginalised socioeconomic conditions.

Offer of Assistance - An Opinion from the Committee on Development of the European Parliament on the proposal by the European Commission regarding a specific action for transfers of vessels to countries hit by the Tsunami

FAO Fisheries Department — Tue, 7 Jun 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source : European Parliament

Asian Tsunami: European Commission reconstruction mission to Sri Lanka and Indonesia

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Senior European Commission officials and experts will arrive in Asia today to identify potential projects and select priorities for action in tsunami-hit areas. The joint DG Relex/Europaid mission will visit affected areas and discuss with the governments of Sri Lanka and Indonesia how EU assistance worth up to €350 million can best be used to support reconstruction efforts. The mission will also co-ordinate with other donors. The European Investment Bank will join the mission to plan implementation of its loan package (Indian Ocean Tsunami Facility), which will finance large scale infrastructure redevelopment and initiatives to revitalise private sector activity in the region. Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will visit Sri Lanka and Indonesia next month.

Tsunami: European Commission takes further action to help rebuild fisheries and aquaculture sector in tsunami-hit areas

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The European Commission took another step forward today in its action to help rehabilitate the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the areas hit by the tsunami that struck in the Indian Ocean on 26 December. Thus, it adopted a Decision to provide immediate and more long-term technical expertise and assistance to the countries concerned. Experts will contribute to the assessment of the reconstruction requirements in fisheries and aquaculture in these areas. They will also assist in the implementation of the agreed rehabilitation measures in this sector. The Commission also proposes to amend some rules in the Fisheries Fund, the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), so as to remove the legal obstacles to the co-financing of a possible transfer of fishing vessels from the European Union to the affected areas.

European Commission accelerates preferential trade measures to benefit tsunami-hit countries

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

In response to the Tsunami disaster, the European Commission has today proposed to accelerate the entry into force of the new EU preferential trade regime for developing countries. The new Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) will now come into effect on April 1. The focus of the new regime is on developing countries most in need such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. The EU GSP, already by far the most generous in the world, provides for further tariff concessions, in particular in the clothing and the fishery sectors. Its benefits will extend to all the countries affected by the recent Tsunami.

Indonesian minister urges quick action for tsunami victims.

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Urgent action is needed to help devastated fishing communities rebuild their lives in tsunamihit areas of northern Sumatra, Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi told an FAO-sponsored meeting after a visit to the region. Mr Numberi, in Medan after visiting the worst hit areas of Sumatra’s Aceh province this week, urged a meeting organised by his ministry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Saturday to work on an overall revival plan for the coastal area where more than 230,000 people were lost in the tsunami disaster.

WB, ADB and JBIC to jointly raise US $ 500 m - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Daily News The three principal donors of Sri Lanka, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation yesterday announced that they were planning to raise US $ 500 million together to meet the short and medium-term reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka. The joint donor assessment report evaluates US $ 500 million for short-term financing needs which includes reconstruction of housing, transportation infrastructure, small and micro enterprises and livelihood restoration for fishermen.

UN takes first step in rebuilding Sri Lanka's fishing fleet, destroyed by tsunami - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

UN News Centre In the first small step in a large-scale initiative to help restore the livelihoods of thousands of Sri Lankan fishermen devastated by December's Indian Ocean tsunami, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today handed over an initial $380,000 consignment of boat repair kits. The donation, funded jointly by FAO and the German technical cooperation agency GTZ, represents the start of FAO's $20 million initial response to the tsunami that ravaged more than three quarters of the country's fisheries industry. The immediate relief project is due to last six months and will then be followed by a longer-term rehabilitation programme. FAO will provide fishing nets and gear, as well as outboard engines, and will repair damaged boats or replace those lost with new ones. This assistance will cover all regions of the country. The north and east in particular, already made vulnerable by civil conflict, were badly hit by the tsunami. FAO will also provide necessary technical assistance for the re-establishment of ice plants, cold rooms, fish collecting and marketing centres and rehabilitate the fishery harbours and anchorages.

Trocaire supported Tsunami projects - Sri Lanka - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Trocaire An excerpt of Trocaire's ongoing work in Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka, Trocaire are working through SEDEC (Caritas India) in Trincomalee / Batticaloa (East), Galle (South) and Jaffna (North). In Trincomalee / Batticaloa 5,500 fisher folk, 900 carpenters, 200 blacksmiths and 7,500 women will be given the means (tools and/or training) to return to work or to earn an income. In the Jaffna area, 2,000 families are being provided with fishing boats and nets via their fishing societies. The second phase of rehabilitation involves permanent shelter for 4,500 families; a small grant to cover re-start costs for fisher folk, small traders (fish & vegetable sellers), brick makers, tailors and carpenters.

EU trade preferences to Indonesia

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP) The European Union is to extend preferential trade conditions to Indonesia from April, France's foreign trade minister said today after talks with his Indonesian counterpart, Marie Pangestu. "These trade preferences are going to be put in place from April 1 instead of July 1 to help Indonesia, which will benefit in this way from lower customs duty in certain sectors," Francois Loos said. Negotiations on the matter between EU states are ongoing, but it looked likely Indonesia would, for instance, see duty on shoe exports to the EU cut from 17 per cent to 13.5 per cent, Mr Loos said. France would give bilateral aid to Indonesia to help with aquaculture on the island of Batam, supply signal buoys for the management of fish stocks, and authorise the French development agency to participate in reconstruction of areas devastated by the December 26 tsunami through subsidised loans. "We are prepared to pursue the renegotiation of Indonesia's foreign debt, upon the repayments of which France put a moratorium. And we are also prepared, as far as the debt goes with France, to convert it into investments, up to $US65 million ($83.94 million)," Mr Loos said. He said he would visit Jakarta on March 3-5 with a business delegation.

Trocaire supported Tsunami projects - India - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Trocaire Date An excerpt of Trocaire's ongoing work in India: In India Trocaire is working via Caritas India, which, in turn is working with 19 different diocesan development partners in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The programme is in 3 phases. Phase one, which is on-going is the immediate relief phase, which involves the provision of food, clothing, sleeping materials, water, and sanitation support for 222,500 people. Phase two has started and includes provision of temporary shelter, household kits (including utensils, soap, clothes etc), access to clean water and sanitation, training of counsellors and food-for-work programmes for 25,000 families. In the third and final phase of the programme, which is currently being refined with each of the implementing agencies. Caritas India will help individuals, families and communities to rebuild their lives. This will include the construction of permanent housing, provision of fishing boats and equipment for 25,000 families.

U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) outlines procedures for submitting comments concerning tsunami impact on shrimp industries of India and Thailand

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today announced procedures for submitting comments concerning the impact of last December's tsunami on the shrimp industries of India and Thailand. The Commission has invited comments from the public, including but not limited to interested parties, on whether changed circumstances exist sufficient to warrant review of its January 6, 2005, affirmative injury determinations in its antidumping investigations Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp from India and Thailand.

Indonesia plans to repair environmental damage to its tsunami coast

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Agence France Presse (AFP)> Channel Asia News The UN Environmental Programme last week sent an expert to Aceh to address the environmental impact estimated to have damaged 25,000 hectares (61,750 acres) of mangroves, some 29,200 hectares of coral reefs and 120 hectares of seagrass beds. Three teams from the Indonesian fisheries ministry are also in the region to determine what can be done to revive the fish farms along the northeast coast of Aceh, the main source of livelihood for over 10 percent of the region's population. Replanting mangrove swamps which enveloped 1,625 kilometres (1,000 miles) of the north Sumatran coast until they were obliterated by the tsunami would be the first priority, Muhammad Adli Abdullah, an Indonesian consultant of the UN Development Programme, told AFP.

FAO calls to help Tsunami CHARM Tsunami Emergency Plan - Offers of Assistance

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Source: Stream - CHARM (Coastal Habitats and Resources Management) is a 5-years (2002-2007) Royal Thai Government (RTG) project supported by the EU. The Project Management Unit (PMU) is within the Department of Fisheries as Contracting Authority in charge of coordination with other RTG Departments. The CHARM PMU takes the tsunami aftermath as an opportunity to serve this strategy and with its Field Management Units is willing to play a facilitating role with a number of institutions/organisations for the benefit of communities and local authorities. To this purpose, it expands its activities to the whole Andaman coast including the six affected provinces of Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun, and makes its resources (funds, expertise, protocols) immediately available towards the setting up of a master plan for the Southwest coastal zone rehabilitation. Fisheries status: The project indicates that the estimated global amount for the damages inflicted to fishing and farming communities has been lastly estimated at 8 billion Baht. The Thai government contribution is currently of 1.3 billion Baht. As a Thai government project, the CHARM policy is to top up the already existing aid not to replace it. Response: A workshop will be organized by CHARM on 14-15 February 2005 in Phuket. Its objective is to present and collate government, NGOs and local groups assessments, identify the needs of the grassroots level organisations, help them to put them into projects and agree upon the mechanisms that should be developed to promote direct support and appropriate coordination between donors.

EU to help tsunami-ravaged countries with expertise and... boats

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council 24 January 2005 evaluated possible financial support and measures specifically designed to rebuild the fishing industry in the most affected countries. The EU initiatives, in coordination with FAO, include the immediate mobilising of European and international expertise for impact assessment and identification of reconstruction requirements. A second type of initiative would involve the modification of existing rules under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) to open the way, under certain conditions, for a possible transfer of small fishing vessels from the EU to the affected areas to help rebuild their fishing sector. With the support of the European Parliament and the Council, the proposal could be discussed at the next Council meeting on 28 February. Only small vessels due to be scrapped under EU quota restrictions, fully seaworthy, equipped and adapted to the needs of the destination countries, would be involved.

Tsunami effects on markets for seafood products

FAO Fisheries Department — Mon, 7 Mar 2005 12:00:00 +0100

Malaysia The effects of Asian Tsunami have not only destroyed the lifes of millions of people in many countries but also affected consumers' confidence in buying fresh/chilled fish especially those caught from Indian ocean. It was reported that fresh/chilled seafood sales has dropped by 70 percent in the state of Penang Island where consumers have been staying away from eating fresh fish as there is fear that the fish caught off Penang waters may have been contaminated with corpes of the disaster victims. To restore the consumers' confidence the government and fisheries associations have launched a nation-wide campaign urging people to eat fish.