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| Sunday, 17 November 2002 |
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Local fresh water fish under the spotlight by Jayanthi Liyanage The National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), which promotes inland fishing, will conduct the 'Inland Food Fish Fiesta'from December 19 to 22 at the Vihara Maha Devi Park. Chefs from India, China and Thailand as well as those from leading local hotels will take part. It will have about 25 stalls. The Fiesta is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on December 19 while Minister of Fisheries and Acquatice Resources Mahinda Wijesekera is also expected to participate. Inland fish farming is a major component of NAQDA's aquaculture project. It includes a US$ 20 million agreement with the Asian Development Bank, NAQDA Chairman, Ariya Kannangara said. "We want to help village fresh water fish farmers with hatcheries, tanks and other infrastructure, educate them on farming technology and create urban and export markets for them so they could progress beyond the Rs. 30-40 a kilo they fetch in the village," Kannangara said. NAQDA is negotiating with a Malaysian company to set up an inland fish farming, processing and exporting plant in Sri Lanka. "Our main varieties are Red Thilapia and Carp; there is a large world market demand for the former," Kannangara added. "Many people do not know how to cook fresh water fish. Urban people could learn recipes for these fish and taste them at this fiesta." Inland fish could fill the vacuum created in households, hotels and the tourist industry by the high cost of marine fish. Pabilis, Chef Chief of Mt. Lavinia Hotel said: "I have used river fish in bread rolls but its off-flavour and the consumer's knowledge that it is bred in polluted water are the biggest hurdles in popularising this fish. We can overcome this by breeding them in hygienic tanks and showing the housewives how to season the dish." "Promoting inland fishery is timely at this juncture when marine fish resources are depleting," said Dr. Yasmina Sultanbawa, Senior Research Officer, Agro and Food Technology Division, Industrial Technology Institute, which will carry out primary processing and filleting of fish harvested through NAQDA's intensive farming. "By secondary processing such as making dry fish, sausages and smoked fish, which extends shelf-life, we can introduce inland fish products on a commercial scale." The second segment of the Fish Fiesta will consist of about 70 stalls exhibiting ornamental fish and aqua plants of mainly small-scale producers. The NAQDA Chairman said: "We, as a government authority, has taken the initiative of promoting this industry and gathering ornamental fish farmers to this venue to display their range to the local market. We will also try to show the public how they can start rearing fish as a hobby and make it an income generation method." |
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