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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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"Min Visithuru 2002" : An ornamental fish carnival by Jayanthi Liyanage Through the surf and the swell... and sand strewn caverns deep... where
swimming lights quiver and gleam... and salt weed sway in the A sealed drop of illusion - of ocean, lagoon, creek or lake - brought within the familiarity of verandah, porch or the living room. The practice has become one of the world's most sought-after hobby horses, enjoying a preference over the cat-dog dominated pet industry - for those who would rather have "a pretty kettle of fish". Sri Lanka's small-scale ornamental fish breeders scattered over the country as far apart as from Hambantota to Polonnaruwa, will have the rare opportunity of obtaining a bidding for their varied fish ware from a broader spread of local exporters and retailers when "Min Visithuru 2002" floats on the lawns of Viharamahadevi Park from December 19 - 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to inaugurate this celebration of fish at 4 p.m. on December 19, with Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Wijesekera and other Ministers and parliamentarians taking part. "Min Visithuru is a spread of 70 stalls run by the country's ornamental fish and aquatic plant producers," Ariya Kannangara, NAQDA Chairman, explains. "This exhibition and the resultant co-ordination between producers, out-growers, collectors, retailers and exporters will promote the local market by the filip the industry receives by better marketing opportunity. Many houses keep fish tanks and we will also show the general public how to develop this hobby into an income generation." Ornamental fish is designed for both the hobbyist and the industry and displayed in a variety of "aquaria" in innovatively different settings and situations.
The marine species are brought in by the divers searching for catch in seas off Trincomalee and Down South and also from around the Maldives and the Red Sea. The fresh water species, from which Guppies are among the most popular, are bred in artificial ponds by local fish breeders. A few shrimp varieties, such as the Dancing Shrimp, are bred as ornamental species. A fish could rang from just fifty cents to as high as Rs. 4,000 and about 300 varieties of ornamental fish could be found in Sri Lanka. In 1999, the local ornamental fish production supplied a mere 4.9 per cent to the world market. "Currently, the entire fishery sector of seafood, inland and other fishery produce contribute 2.75 per cent to the GDP," NAQDA Chairman points out. "Anybody who wish to farm and export ornamental fish can come to this exhibition and learn how to do it." The exhibition will also be an explorative ground for different fish accessories, fish food, tanks and aquariums. Commencing from last July, NAQDA has set up a Trading Exchange where ornamental fish breeders, out-growers and exporters could meet exporters regularly. This helps the breeder to be aware of the contemporary market and breed his fish accordingly. "We want to have this every month as an on-going exhibition." He adds that though currently all ornamental fish are imported and artificially bred, indigenous species too would be bred and made available to the local farmers in time to come. The industry's future direction, as voiced by Vibhu Perera, Managing Director, Lumbini Aquaria Wayamba Ltd., pioneers of the local industry is, "that we must avoid depending on our wild crop." Which calls for the co-ordination of the conservationist and outside resources in order to breed species endemic to our seas and inland waters. |
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stream...
with the ruffle of a fin and a wag of a tail... come darting in as a
handful of jewels... bright pancakes of Discus... the crisp swish of
Swordtail... black stripes of Tiger Barb... the flying blue of Diesel...
the majesty of Emperor... the black balloons of Mollies... and the many
coloured ovals of Carp...
Virtually an ornamental fish carnival, it is "the prettier
half" of the "Inland Food Fish Fiesta", to be launched
simultaneously from the same grounds by National Aquaculture Development
Authority (NAQDA), as part of a new series of programmes to rejuvenate the
island's fresh water and ornamental fish industries initiated by the
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Expect mild unassuming Gold
Fish to vie side by side with relatively more aggressive Angels, Guramis,
Oscars and Fighters.
