OBJECTIVES
The first objective of the Sashimi Project is to fight the present over fishing situation close to the shore by concentrating on the fish reserve 200- 500 miles away, which is still untouched due to a lack of proper resources.
The second objective of the Sashimi Project is to generate revenue to the area through the introduction of the Sashimi Boats, 5-10 day deep-sea fishing vessels. These boats will cater to high- end export markets and high quality local markets through the supply of high quality tuna as Sashimi fish, very popular in the European and Japanese markets. Tuna is a highly marketable fish that is in high demand in these countries. The entire project, which is identified as the Sashimi Project is expected to add a new dimension to the fishing industry in Sri Lanka by catering high quality fish to local and international markets.
The majority of fishing methods used in Sri Lanka are destructive for the long-term sustainability of the industry. Most of the fishing activities are concentrated close to the shore resulting in a situation of over fishing in the area. Due to outdated equipment and a lack thereof, current deep-sea fishing excursions take long durations making the catch unsuitable for specialized markets/up-markets both locally and internationally. These problematic fishing methods and over fishing concerns were highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations many years ago. In this regard the BAFF has introduced 2 new boat designs:
. With better storing facilities enabling the fishermen to go out in the deep-sea and return with well preserved, top quality fish.
. With double the speed potential making deep sea fishing grounds accessible within a reasonable time.
. With 50 percent lower energy consumption through the use of advanced hull design and sail drive.
. Suitable for long distance trips of 5 to 10 days and up to 500 miles.
. To give the grassroot fishing community of Sri Lanka the means to reach and catch quality fish in the abundant high seas and ultimately reduce the number of families contributing to coastal over-fishing in this area.
RATIONALE OF THE SASHIMI PROJECT
Sashimi is a traditional Japanese dish, made from thin slices of premium-quality raw fish. The most popular sashimi fish are the red-meat species, particularly tunas and skipjack. Sashimi in fact means much more than just raw fish, the term implies specific requirements regarding freshness, appearance, presentation, texture and taste. There are many ways of handling and packing fresh tuna, but few permit the export of a high-grade product to the sashimi markets.
Longer periods taken by Sri Lankan multi-day boats on fishing excursions and the poor fish handling methods used by the majority of local fisherman (both on the deck and at harbor) reduce the fish quality in terms of freshness, texture, appearance, the taste, etc. Thus it has become necessary to introduce new fishing technologies and handling methods on board.
Indirectly by catering to both local and international markets the Sashimi Project will give fresh impulses to the distribution sector in Sri Lanka, an area presently underdeveloped. Now that the Sashimi fleet is nearly operational, these issues are being integrated into the scope of the Sashimi Project with current MOU negations between BAF and Vissers Voor Vissers. The Ceylon Fishery Harbor Corporation is well aware that sturdy improvements are essential in the processing and distribution sector and has thus made this one of their priorities. This issue is also being addressed through the ongoing reconstruction and modernizations of the fisheries harbors after the tsunami disaster. Private entrepreneurs, without doubt, also will fulfill their role as soon as the availability of quality fish increases.
TRAINING
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The primary target group is the young and unemployed young people along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka affected by the tsunami, but not limited to this. The Sashimi Project particularly targets the fishermen, initially in Weligama and Mirissa, who were hit hardest by the tsunami and yet today face another menace to their livelihood.
Per year 15 students (45 trainees over a period of 3 years) will be fully trained with the necessary skills to design, build, and test the selected Sashimi Boat design. The BAFF has entered the completion phase of the first Sashimi MK1 boat type trimaran and it is set to launch 03May 2007. The knowledge and expertise gained through the construction of the first prototype, as well as the future prototype, will be passed on to local boat builders via the trainees. These local boat builders will then function as a catalyst to further develop, use, and construct Sashimi boats throughout the region.
 
PRESENT FISHING TECHNIQUES USED IN SRI LANKA ^
Presently in Sri Lanka, sea fishing is carried out using different types of fishing crafts and techniques. A brief introduction to them:
1. One day fishing boats (maximum 2 days)
1.1. 4 meter long canoes (manually moved with oars)
These operate within a distance of 1 mile from the shore and go out into the sea during daytime or during night time, but return within 12 hours.
1.2. Engine powered catamarans (4m - 8hp, 6m - 15hp and 13m - 25/40hp)
These catamarans operate within a distance of 10 miles from the shore and use drift nets. Some utilize special nets where they surround shoals of fish, cast the net, and haul them in. This technique is considered to be very destructive as they often catch young tuna shoals comprising 2,000 to 3,000 tuna weighing less than 2kg, whereas a grown up tuna could weigh up to 100kg.
1.3. Mono-hull outboard motorboats (6m ? 12/20hp engines)
These go up to about 5 miles and fish using drift nets.
1.4. Mono-hull inboard motorboats (28ft boats fitted with 2 cylinder marine engines)
These boats can reach a cruising speed of 6 knots and go for trawling and long line fishing. The units equipped with 5km long lines catch large tunas weighing 60 to 100kg. Trawlers with lines catch a variety of hunting fish ranging from barracuda, swordfish, to seer fish, etc.
2. Multi-day fishing boats
These go to sea for up to three weeks taking in about 10 tons of ice. The catch is supplied to the local market. Often about 30% of the catch does not qualify to be categorized as fresh fish suitable for export markets.
THE SASHIMI BOAT ^
The basic parameters identified for the development of the new Sashimi Boat were as follows:
. Facilities to accommodate a 3 member crew.
. Length between 28 and 45ft.
. Ability to go into deep-sea and return with sashimi quality fish conserved in fresh conditions for 5 to a maximum of 10 days.
. Ability to store and conserve 1 metric ton of Tuna or other pelagic fish on ice or in chilled seawater at a consistent 2 degrees.
. Equipped with adequate safety and communication facilities.
. Increased fuel efficiency (through the use of appropriate materials, the introduction of easy to handle sailing rigs and advanced hull design, etc.).
 
A break up of the main activities during a typical fishing expedition is as follows:
. The first activity is leaving the harbor to the fishing grounds (100-150 nautical miles). This is done at a trawling speed of 6-7 knots. The boat will have two outriggers and a total of 6 to 8 trawling lines to catch occasional tuna.
. The second activity is trawling and hunting and is carried out when reaching the fishing grounds or on the way during daytime. About 60% is trawling at 6 knots and 40% is hunting at 10 to 12 knots to catch up with tuna fish shoals.
Therefore the boat will have to have a maximum speed that is close to 15 knots, in order to catch up with fish shoals.
. The third activity is long line fishing carried out at zero speed during the nighttime with 5km long lines having 200 hooks.
The fourth activity is returning to base, done at about 10 knots.
The promoters of BAF Foundation have been working on this idea for some time and have engaged two reputed designers to develop designs based on above requirements. The concepts developed by the two designers are discussed below. Long line fishing and trawling are fishing techniques which have been recommended by FAO as much more sustainable than using drift nets.
The following two prototypes have been fully financed by the Belgium Ministry of Development and Corporation
THE FIRST PROTOTYPE
The first is a large harbor based displacement boat measuring 13 meters in length, 5 meters in width, and weighing 5 tons with a inboard diesel engine of 55hp and capable of reaching a top speed of 14 knots.
 
 
 
A design company based in Australia and France named Allseas Marine Design and Consultancy, specialized in fast motor yachts and fishing boats, accepted to take on this concept and came up with the design consisting of a long mono hull with two outriggers on both sides. A model boat at a scale of 1/15 was developed and now with the help of Australian boat builder Chris Bowman and his 15 trainees, the construction of this boat is nearly complete and set to launch 3 May 2007,fore a three month trail period .
THE SECOND PROTOTYPE
Parallel, a lighter beachable, 12 meter long displacement boat is being developed. This boat will be equipped with two outboard motors and be capable of going out fishing for 2 to 4 days. Catamaran type boats are very popular in this part of the world. A beachable boat is pulled out of the water and parked on the beach using a beach handler operational on caterpillars. The designer of this boat is German Frers from Argentina and Milan who is a world famous designer of sailing, racing and cruising boats. They have already provided design drawings at a scale of 1/15 and based on this a model will be developed for proofing with the local fishing community and the experts. Beachable boats have the advantage of not requiring a harbor for mooring.
CONSTRUCTION OF SASHIMI BOATS
A specially designed boatyard using advanced technology and materials has been established and fully funded by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) which implements the project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in partnership with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Regional Development. This boatyard has a fully controlled atmosphere in terms of temperature and moisture content essential in mixing such chemicals as epoxy and carbon fiber sandwich structures.
 
Two prototypes will be developed through the BAF Foundation and tested under the actual conditions. The first of which will be tested the 3rd May 2007 and based on the results, one design or both designs will be launched as the Sashimi Boat(s).
If the operations become commercially successful, the other boatyards in Sri Lanka will be encouraged to build these types of boats. At this stage the building, maintenance and sail making for Sashimi Boats will be covered under the same project.
Sashimi Boat building and making of sails could also be undertaken by the boat building enterprises that are expected to be setup with the assistance of BAF Foundation and would definitely be a boost to the boat building industry. Mechanical parts such as pulleys, furlers and winches required for Sashimi boats will be manufactured by the network of small scale workshops created through other parts of the BAF Foundation project.
Local mechanics and trainees from BAF Foundation are currently engaged in the prototype building process, giving them an opportunity for exposure in advanced building technologies, which is ultimately expected to increase their chances of getting gainful employment in this sector.
Within the framework of the Boat Builders' Association, the BAF Foundation intends to make the prototype boatyard available to other boat builders, as it will help improve the fisheries sector at large.
Once the prototypes are completed, BAF Foundation expects to continue with efforts to attract further foreign interests, expertise and technology with the objective of developing into a private sector of driven training and service provider network for boat building in the fisheries - and other sectors.
Retrofitting existing 19 feet and 30 feet OFRP boats with sails
Introduction
In Sri Lanka about 250,000 people live directly from fishery and 100,000 people indirectly. This sector thus generates a lot of employment and economic resources, but also suffers from different problems. For the fishermen, today, one of the biggest threats is the increasing fuel price because the vast majority of the fishing craft are engine-driven. The most popular motorized fishing craft is the FRP of 20 feet, from which approximately 17,835 have been reported in 2006/2007.
In view of trying to reduce the financial costs of the fishermen and of trying to save the environment, the reintroduction of sails is a major opportunity.
Project
In view of helping the fishermen, Building A Future Foundation is carrying out a project to retrofit 19 feet OFRP and 30 feet OFRP boats with sails, rigging, a dagger board and a rudder. Furthermore, modifications will be done in order to make a boat unsinkable. Currently a prototype package has been tested on a 19 feet boat and is in development. Below is a picture of the testing.
After testing the retrofitted 19 feet boat, the sailing kit will be made available to the fishermen. Building a Future Foundation will cooperate with Cey-Nor Foundation in order to promote the sailing kits among fishermen communities. Currently, the idea would be to build 4 new 19 feet OFRP with sails. When a fisherman agrees to retrofit his boat with sails, he would receive a new 19 feet OFRP while his boat is being modified in order to be able to continue his fishing activities and to learn already to operate sails.
The same project will be carried out on 30 feet OFRP boats.
TRAINING IN FISH HANDLING ^
As discussed previously, proper handling of the catch is imperative if the fish are to be sent as Sashimi fish. Thus special training will be provided to fishermen on proper handling of fish when caught, landing, handling on the deck, cleanliness of the equipment, storing, etc. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Building A Future Foundation and Vissers Vor Vissers is currently in negotiation for the training of the fishing community in proper fishing, processing, cooling, and preservation techniques.
Last updated March 2007
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