Freshwater fishing industry along Madu River in jeopardy

(Top) A pix of a fisherman building a kraal and (bottom) a fisherman engaged in freshwater fishing

• Although the river once had a large number of ja-kotu or shrimp fishing kraals today less than twenty-five of them remain
• The freshwater fishermen of Galmanduwa maintain that they built their houses some thirty years ago thanks to the flourishing freshwater fishing industry along this river

Fishermen fear that the freshwater fishing industry, that was operated along Madu River in Balapitiya, will not sustain in time to come. Although the river once had a large number of ja-kotu or shrimp fishing kraals today less than twenty-five of them remain. Fishermen claim that this reduction is due to the spike in mechanical boats that carry local and foreign tourists daily. The fishermen also say that the situation has been exacerbated by several other reasons such as having to spend a lot of money on constructing the kraals. It is also said that many families who made a living from the freshwater fishing industry in villages around Madu River and inhabited surrounding islands such as Maduwa, Galmanduwa, etc. have now abandoned it for more lucrative sources of income. The freshwater fishermen of Galmanduwa maintain that they built their houses some thirty years ago thanks to the flourishing freshwater fishing industry along this river. The salinity levels in the water increased following the tsunami and there was much brackish waters. Therefore it became a breeding ground for shrimp, which was available in abundance. But fishermen claim that they cannot even harvest five to six kilos of shrimp as of now. Fishermen also say that the freshwater fish found along Madu River back in the day have also become scarce. 
Hemantha de Silva (Ambalangoda)