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Initial Strategic Environmental Assessment

Preliminary Report on the Socio-economic

Assessment of Northern Province

(Mannar, Mullativu, Kilinochchi & Jaffna Districts)

Socioeconomic & Marketing Research Division

National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency



2005 2,098,004 63063 3.05

2006 2,938,880 81978 2.93

2007 3,578,688 104224 2.91

2008 4,410,682 128373 2.91Source: Statistical Information, 2009-Nothern Province

Though the structure of the provincial economy has not changed over the years, agriculture including

fisheries and animal husbandry which is the main stay of the Northern Province. Contribution of

Agriculture sector in GDP of NP approximately 25% of the GDP of the province. This sector includes

agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery subsectors. This reveals the potential of those subsectors in

developing economic situation of the province.

Table1.4 Composition of GDP-NP at current factor cost prices

Year Agriculture % Industry % Services %

2001 21.02 6.94 71.98

2002 26.49 6.45 67.05

2003 28.39 6.93 64.69

2004 27.53 6.60 65.87

2005 24.77 7.79 67.45

2006 26.39 6.99 66.02

Source:Statistical Information, 2009-Nothern Province

2. Fisheries sector in the Northern Province

2.1 Marine fisheries

Fisheries subsector plays an important role in the national economy of Sri Lanka. Despite the its marginal

contribution to the Gross domestic Product, the sector provides livelihood for more than one million

people engaged in fishing and allied activities in Sri Lanka. More over, Fisheries exports contribute a

substantial amount to foreign exchange earnings of the country. Before 1983 about 50 % of the country’s

fresh fish production came from Northern Province. Though, the contribution of marine fishery declined

drastically during the civil war period its potential can never be under estimated as rich fishing grounds

are available in the northern sea. The coast line of the Northern Province is about 649 kilometers and total

brackish water area is about 70503 hectares and which shows the potential for brackish water aquaculture.

Table 2.1 Length of Coast Line and Brackish Water Area in the Northern Province



District Coast line (km) Brackish water Area (ha)

Mannar 163 3828

Jaffna & Kilinochchi 390 67442

Mullativu 96 9233

Source: North-East Rehabilitation Report

2.2 Marine Sector Fishing Population by District

District 1972 1989 2001 2005 2007 2008

Mannar 11893 29437 25696 36400 42440 46980

Mullativu 4829 14608 17552 12800 7050 7050

Kilinochchi * 6718 8560 14200 9870 9870

Jaffna 41169 102808 48935 77200 78680 81820

*included under Jaffna district Source:Adminstrative reports of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Fishing population in the Northern Province indicates increasing trend but unpredictable fluctuations

during last 3 decades. This was due to migration and displacement of people as a result of conflict

prevailed in the area. However, increasing fishing population shows the importance of fishing as a

livelihood in the area. The highest number of people rely on fishing was in Manner and Jaffna districts. In

addition to direct livelihood on fishing a large number of people engaged in allied activities such as

processing, marketing and trade. The total population rely on fisheries sector was estimated as 25% for Mannar district.

Table 2.3 Marine Sector Active fishers by district

District 1972 1983 1989 1999 2005 2007 2008

Manner 298 4098 5684 4593 9800 10930 11120

Mullativu 1349 2048 3183 1950 3100 1500 2200

Kilinochchi * * 1103 1400 3900 2300 2300

Jaffna 10870 13425 24839 9614 18100 19050 17688

*included under Jaffna district Source:Adminstrative reports of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

The highest number of fishers was in Jaffna district followed by Mannar district. Prior to 1983, the

percentage of active fishermen of fishing population and number of craft/fishermen were higher

compared to after 1983. Therefore with the normalcy in the area may have increased demand for fishing



craft. The number of craft in the Jaffna district in 1983, 2007 and 2009 shows more or less similar but in

production there is a wide variation. This was due to limitations prevailed for fishing operations such

fishing time, area, gear units and technology used.

Table 2.4 Marine Sector Fishing Craft by District

District 1972 1983 1989 1999 2005 2007 2008 2009

Mannar 824 2225 974 1673 1858 2315 2799 2344

Mullativu 432 1425 764 411 530 410 530 na

Kilinochch

i

* * 590 820 558 na

Jaffna 4935 6150 2812 2353 2957 6398 3685 6407

Source: Administrative Reports of the Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources

Table shows total fishing craft of 04 districts. Mannar and Jaffna districts record total number fishing

craft similar to the number of craft in 1983. The composition of craft in the Northern Province maily

confined coastal fishing craft. A limited number of craft with in-board engines were available only in

Jaffna and Mannar districts. However, the fish production in 1983 was very much higher than that of

2009.

Table 2.6 Marine Sector Fresh fish production by District (mt)

District 1980 1990 2000 2005 2007 2008 2009

Mannar 11604 19040 7410 8380 9170 5830 8130

Mullativu 10545 6960 2990 780 360 260 Na

Kilinochch

i

12050 11550 5050 1460 590 360 Na

Jaffna 54253 39740 14450 13370 5130 7390 13080


The coastal area of the Northern Province is rich of marine resources. Before civil war in the Northern

Province was the dominant contribution to the fish production in the country. However, due to severe

security restrictions, which led to a ban of fishing at night and limits on the distance boats could travel,

fisheries was the sub sector most affected in the conflict region. The fish catch dropped dramatically

during the war in Northern Province, where the industry had been a major employer. In 1980, Northern

Province contributed 49 per cent of the total fish catch in the country, which declined marginally to 43 per



cent in 1990. However, the contribution of Northern Province to the total marine production dropped

dramatically to just 10.8 per cent. Since then the catch picked up 25 per cent of the national total in 2001,

20 per cent in 2004 and 16 per cent in 2005. Since 2008 as result of establishment of normalcy in

province marine fish production indicates positive remarks towards increased production. The

production estimates of fresh fish prior to conflict indicate the potential of fish production in the

northern districts.

Table 2.7 Dry fish production by districts

District 1972 1983 1989 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mannar 2089 1253 970 1346 1795 1840 2170 979 860

Mullativu 118 267 264 434 860 324 276 210 Na

Kilinochchi * * * Na Na 148 na 220 128

Jaffna 1723 5482 3745 148 2329 2831 2507 38 na


In the past a substantial part of the fresh fish production in the Northern districts processed for dry fish

production. This was mainly due to lack of proper fisheries infrastructure facilities and inherent problems

of fish marketing and distribution. As this situation worsened during the war period a further decline in

production resulted in drop of dry fish production.

Table 2.8 Number of Fishing villages and Fish landing centres by District

District No. of fishing

villages

No. of fish

landing

centres

Anchorages Fishery Harbours

Mannar 41 36 01 01 (not functioning)

Mullativu 31 24 - -

Kilinochchi 40 12 - -

Jaffna 107 103 01 01 (not functioning)

Source: Statistical Information, 2009-Nothern Province

None of the fish landing sites in the Mannar district is provided with fishery harbours or anchorage

infrastructure except the passenger jetty existing at Talaimannar pier. Due to the geographical positioning

and physical setting, the exposure of the landing sites to the monsoonal impacts have been found to be of



varying degrees. The area of south of the Mannar island is strongly influenced by the South-west

monsoonal waves and the wind and hence landing sites in general are affected for 5-6 months per year

made navigation and fishing operations difficult.

The fairly protected bay area provides some level of shelter from monsoonal waves and winds in the

Kilinochchi district. However, sea conditions within the bay was reported by fisherme

comparatively rough during South-west monsoon. In the absence of any protected anchorages fishers are

in the habit of moving their craft to places along the bay, depending on the monsoonal situation.

Prior to the war, in the Jaffna district the motorized inboard engine boats based at landing centres from

Thodamanaru to Point Pedro were operated from Mylidy harbor located west of Thondamanaru. With the

onset of war, boats have been shifted to Thondamanaru/Point Pedro coastal stretch. Current practice is

that boats with out board engines are hold to the beach often causing damage to the hull, and fishermen

spending long time in this operation. The inboard engine boats are anchored in the near shore waters

protected partially by a limestone reef. During the North-east monsoon where impacts of the waves are

severe, the boats with inboard engines are forced to move either to the sheltered waters elsewhaere or to

go to lagoon located west of Thondamanaru. Even beach landings by small craft becomes a major

problem beach erosion. The jetty of Karainagar is not used by fishermen as it is occupied by the security

forces. The fisheries from Kayts and from other surrounding islands unload their catch in the passenger

jetty which is not satisfactory and interferes with passenger operations. The Jaffna lagoon provides a year

round shelter and boats with inboard engines from other areas including Mullativu come here during the

North-east monsoon for safe anchoring. The only fishery harbor in the Jaffna district located at Mylidy is

used by the Navy as it is within the high security zone.

There no harbor/anchorage infrastructures currently existing at Mullativu.

Table 2.8 Ice plants and production capacity by Districts

District 1983 1998 2005 2008

Production

capacity

(t/d)

Active

Ice

Plants

Production

capacity

(t/d)

Active

Ice

Plants

Production

capacity

(t/d)

Active

Ice

Plants

Production

capacity

(t/d)

Mannar 17 2 15 4 34 5 40

Mullativu 23 - - - - - -

Jaffna 94 2 15 6 8.2 7 10

Total 134 4 30 10 42.2 12 50




Ice production is a vital factor for the preservation of fresh during catching, storing, distribution and

marketing. In 1983 there were 134 tons per day capacity of ice plants located in 04 districts. During the

conflict period ice production had been declined and in 2008 it was in a situation of 50 tons per day. Out

of 50 tons 40 tons were in Mannar district. However, there were no ice plants in Mulativu district.

Table 2.9 Fishing villages with higher fishing population by Districts

District FI Division Fishing village Fishing population

Jaffna Point Pedro East Katkovalam 1036

Munai 1490

Point Pedro West Velvetithurai 1795

Aththikovalady 2010

KKS East Palay 1930

Myllidy 1790

Sandilipay Mathagal 1765

Santhai 1503

Chullipuram Chullipuram West 1350

Ponnalai 1300

Aralay East 1500

Kayts Nainativu 1205

Velanai Thuraiyoor 1195

Jaffna West Navanthurai 2032

Kodday 1406


There are 107 fishing villages in the Jaffna district. Of the fishing villages 15 were among the fishing

population more thousand and 2 fishing villages mor than 2000 population

2.10 Fisheries Inspector Divisions with higher fishing population in Mannar District



Distrct FI Division No. of Fishing Families

Mannar Pesalai 1985

Erukalampiddy 820

Mannar Town 2285

Nanatan 1027

Musalai 794

Vidatalativu 141


Village wise fishing population of Mannar district is unavailable and there were 6 Fisheries Inspector

Divisions with 7052 fishing families. Mannar Town and Pesalai were among the FI divisions with highestfishing families

Table 2.11 Details of Fisheries Anchorage Points in Northern Province

District FI Division Anchorages

Jaffna Delft Neduntheevu

Kayts Analitheevu

Kayts Eluvantheevu

Kayts Kannakiamma thurai

Velanai Nainatheevu

Suthumalai South Naavaanthurai

Jaffna West Kurunagar-TW Jetty

Customs Jetty

Jaffna West Paasaiyoor

Jaffna East Kolumbuthurai

KKS West KKS(not allowed for fishing)

Point Pedro West Point Pedro (not allowed for

fishing)

Mannar Vidathalativu Arnol Canal



Killinochchi Poonakari Pallikuda

Nachchikuda Nachchikuda

Mullativu - -

- -


2.2 Fresh Water Fisheries in the Northern Province

Fresh water fishery is less significant in the northern districts compared to that of rest of the Country.

Mainly fresh water tanks are used for agricultural farming. However, there is a potential for thedevelopment of inland fishery as the existence of a large number of tanks in especially, Mullativu,

Mannar and Kilinochici districts.

Table 2.2.1 Fresh water tanks its capacity in the Northern Province

District No.of tanks Capacity (Ac. Ft)

Mannar 19 17055

Mullativu 8 55704

Kilinochchi 8 157662


The inland and aquaculture production of these districts for certain years are given follow.

Table 2.2.2 Fresh water fish production in northern district

District 1999 2000 2001 2002 2007 2008

Mannar 159 228 180 190 30 320

Mullativu 36 38 na na na 130

Kilinochchi 23 26 na na 10 290

Jaffna 1145 1248 900 930 40 360




3. Socio-economic indicators of the development interventions and the environment

i. Density of fishing population-

II. Number of fishermen/craft- Resource demand

iii. Fish production / craft –resource exploitation rate

iv. Fish production/fisherman or fishing household -

v. Capacity of ice plants- resource utilization rate/external demand for resource

vi Number of harbours & anchorages- resource utilization rate

viii Number of marketing centres –external demand for resource

viii. Number gear units in operation – resource exploitation rate

Table 3.1 Current Socio-economic indicators and environmental sensitivity on Marine environment

Socio-economic indicator Mannar Mullative Kilinochchi Jaffna

Population density low * high

Fishing population density Moderate Low Low Moderate

Number of fishers/craft Moderate Low Low Moderate

Fish production/craft Low Low Low Low

Fish production/fisher Low Low Low Low

Capacities of ice production Low Nil Nil Low

Number of Marketing centres Low Low Low Low

Number of anchorages Moderate Low Low Moderate



Fishery Harbours & Anchorages of Sri Lanka

Source:Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation

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