Cyclone Ditwah related flooding has caused more than Rs. 7.6 billion in losses to the country’s fisheries sector, with aquaculture bearing the brunt of the damage, the Ministry of Fisheries said.
Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar said aquaculture losses were estimated at Rs. 5.85 billion, while damage to coastal fisheries amounted to about Rs. 1.8 billion.
Chandrasekar said the Ministry has drawn up a recovery plan that includes repairing and replacing damaged fishing vessels, providing assistance for destroyed or damaged fishing gear and supporting aquaculture producers affected by the floods.
The plan also includes access to low-interest loans to help fishermen and fisheries-related businesses resume operations, he said.
The Ministry said relief efforts will be prioritized for fishermen and enterprises that were most severely affected by the flooding.
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