February 18, 2005

Fisheries sectors suffer $520 million in losses due to tsunami

The tsunami in Asia caused the fisheries sector in the seven countries worst affected to incur more than half a billion dollars' worth of damage.

The tsunami in December 2004 killed or washed away 300,000 people, destroyed or damaged 111,073 fishing boats, putting a huge strain on countries where fishing is a vital source of food and income, according to the U.N.

Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO).

"The current estimate for direct losses in the fisheries sector is now around $520 million," said FAO's Jeremy Turner.

The FAO has sent experts to help rebuild and repair ships, nets, engines and fish farms destroyed in the disaster.