Sri Lanka, Nov. 1 -- (President and Member of the Sri Lanka Forum for Small Scale Fisheries (SLFSSF)

One of the serious issues in the fisheries of Sri Lanka today is the alarmingly high post-harvest losses, which remain as high as 40-60 per cent of the total fish harvested. While diverse strategies have been introduced to deal with the issue, none have led to any significant reduction in post-harvest losses. Although fish processing is one such means of reducing these losses, while providing the masses with a nutritious and palatable food, this sub-sector too is suffering from technological stagnation, lack of investment and miscellany, poor hygienic conditions maintained in processing sites, etc.

Women fisherfolk, who earn supplementar...