Contributed Articles
Warsay Yikealo Development Campaign: Making Eritreans the Beneficiaries of their Resources
By Simon Mesfun
Aug 29, 2008, 9:27am

The Red Sea is biggest natural resource of Eritrea. More than ever the Government of Eritrea is working to make the people the main beneficiaries of the resources.

Fishing in Eritrea started many years ago in a small scale. As a result, it was only known by people residing in the coastal areas and a few in big towns.

But today, the habit of eating fish is developing from time to time as the result of the activities of the Eritrean National Fisheries Corporation. As the Government is attempting to implement self sustaining policy, fishing is part of its priorities. It is now working by interrelating the traditional fishing with the modern one.

The head office of the Corporation is located in the capital of the Southern Red Sea Region, Asseb. The main objective of the Corporation is to motivate fishermen and provide fish to the market.

The Corporation was established in 1999 at a small scale. It introduced new management in 2005 and started export activities to neighboring countries.

Mr. Kalid Mohamed Ahmed, General Manager of the Corporation, explains that the Corporation’s capacity is developing from time to time and it ha a bright future.

The Corporation is playing a vital role in developing the standard of living of the people of the Southern Red Sea Region by providing their product to the market. The coastal population is heavily dependent on fishing.

The Corporation also conducts campaigns on the importance of fish through out the country. Their role in the National Festival 2008 is a good example. In the festival, members of the Corporation provided sea products at a very fair price and were engaged in increasing public awareness by explanations and distributing brochures.

The Corporation is working with a leading principle: ‘The awareness of the people on fish can successfully be increased if the sea product is available all over the country’. They have already introduced dried fish to the people.

The increase in number of fishermen clearly shows the success of the Corporation. In addition, the Corporation provides fuel and ice to motivate the fishermen.

In the near future, the Corporation will introduce modern large fishing boats to make the process of fishing successful.

By Abubeker Abdulawel

(Source: Haddas Eritrea July 31st 2008)

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