Feasibility Studies on Sustainable Fisheries Infrastructure Development

Abstract

A need exists for the development of appropriate fisheries infrastructure to meet the demands of the expanding fisheries sector in the country. With such developments, however, a possibility exists for the coastal constructions associated with fisheries infrastructure to cause adverse impacts in the form of coastal erosion and/or accretion in the vicinity of facilities as well as siltation in the sheltered areas within the facilities, raising concerns related to the sustainability and the effectiveness of the developments. In view of these circumstances, a number of studies were conducted recently to assess the feasibility of developing sustainable fisheries infrastructure in various parts of the country. In the absence of recorded nearshore data at many of the locations considered, the investigations were mainly based on field studies, analysis of available data and local knowledge gathered through community consultations. The details of selected investigations are presented and the recommendations are elaborated.