The government is expected to grant E-log books, in the form of tablet computers, to 1,490 fishermen to record various data while out at sea as well as to monitor each vessel, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources told Ceylon Today.
Accordingly, the ministry has allocated a sum of Rs 149 million for the project.
This initiative was taken by the government in accordance with demands made by the European Union (EU) as one of the criteria set out by them to lift the fisheries ban on Sri Lanka.
The tablets provided would be unique designed to be used out at sea and would be water-proof to a certain degree.
The tablets have been specially programed to be used by fishermen to record data concerning daily catches and other various functions of the fishing vessels.
Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Amaraweera, had instructed that the Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) be installed in the tablet computers so that the locations of fishing vessels could be monitored, especially while in international waters, which would significantly help curtail illegal activities while at sea.
The ministry hopes to conclude the distribution of the devices to the fishermen within the next three months.
