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| Sunday, 17 July 2005 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Variety and quality can boost ornamental fish exports by Surekha Galagoda
The ornamental fish industry in the country can be traced to the 1930's. It started with the export of wild marine fish and moved to rearing and export of fresh water fish. In the 1980's exporters imported, bred and re-exported different kinds of fish. At present there are about 80 registered buyers in the country, exporters and those who sell in the local market.
The export season for ornamental fish starts in September and ends in May. There is a high demand for live bearers and egg layers. Live bearers include Guppies, Short Tail and the Platy while egg layers include Angels, Barbs, Tetras and Guramis, he said. Compared to Singapore our range of fish is small and the reason is the low investment on research and development. To overcome this problem NAQDA opened a training centre at Rambadagalla, Kurunegala recently. Large breeders too should get involved in Research and Development to breed new varieties. This will also help employment generation, he said. The relevant countries internal environment affects our exports in a big way while the number of flights and the duration of flights is another major factor. The demand for ornamental fish in the local market increases during the school vacation and gold fish which has a high demand fetches the highest price. Seylon Aquatics (Pvt) Ltd in Pannala set up 13 years ago exports ornamental fish to Europe, USA and Australia. The company's Director/General Manager Crisantha Alexander said "there is a lack of knowledge in Sri Lanka about the ornamental fish industry compared to Singapore and Israel. He said Israel started with Guppies and now they have a major share and is becoming a major competitor. Therefore, if we don't act fast we might lose to Israel too, he said. He said that though they conduct R&D it is not sufficient and now NAQDA has started assisting us. When organising exhibitions the details should be communicated early to the international community so that they can plan their itinerary accordingly. President, Lanka Professional Ornamental Fish Producers' Association Mirigama Nishantha Fernando said" we started in 1998 and have 250 members who are professionals.They engage in it professionally. I have trained everybody and I buy all their produce. I have provided employment to about 1,000 persons. The problems we face are that we don't get finances or assistance from the state. Therefore exhibitions alone will not help develop the industry. Speaking of the future he said that he plans to export to Singapore, Zimbabwe and Malaysia. Proprietor of J.P. Aquarium D.J.P. Fernando said that he buys imported
tanks as there is no demand for local tanks. I have the ideas, I know the
market but the lack of finances hold me back. Therefore If there are about
three exhibitions like this every year, I know how to sell my goods and
prosper. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
Ornamental fish rearing, the second largest hobby in the world which
fetched US$ 7.39 million in 2004 as export earnings to the country and
provides employment to more than 50,000 can be developed further if variety
and quality is improved and a consistent supply is maintained. 
The major portion of the foreign exchange earnings comes from the export
of marine ornamental fish species from the sea, but as more and more
restrictions are being imposed on harvesting fish from natural resources it
is important to develop captured breeding techniques for marine ornamental
fish to sustain the industry, said Nimal Chandrasiri of the National Aquatic
Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NAQDA). 
