Fisheries, a dynamic export

Sri Lanka has reiterated its keenness to make its fisheries a key player in its exports goal. "The fisheries sector in Sri Lanka has emerged as a dynamic export sector and now earns considerable foreign exchange.

Assistance of regional agencies such as INFOFISH, and an initiative such as mega exhibition Sri Lanka Expo 2012 are valuable in the introduction of much needed new technologies in fish production and processing, said Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka, Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the inauguration of the 26th session of INFOFISH Governing Council at Cinnamon Lake.

Fish has become a valuable low cost source of protein to billions of people the world over. The marine fishery industries in many countries are facing more and more constraints lately. As a result, the freshwater fishery sector has been gaining in importance even in Sri Lanka. From January - October 2011, Sri Lanka produced 309,580 metric tonnes of marine fish and 47,450 metric tonnes of freshwater fish. Sri Lanka exports around 172 million tonnes of fish annually. Ninety-five million tonnes of fish are imported but the bulk of it are re-exported.

Minister Bathiudeen said: "In Sri Lanka, the fisheries industry could be considered as one of the largest industries of economic importance.

The industry contributes to substantial amounts of direct and indirect employment to the people living in the coastal belt and also around the reservoirs and tanks in the dry zone.

The sector currently provide direct employment to about 650,000 people comprising 150,000 in fishing, 100,000 in associated services and activities and 400,000 in fish trade.

The Sri Lankan fisheries sector consists of three main sub sectors namely, Coastal Fisheries, deep-sea Fisheries and Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture. Sri Lanka has a coastline of around 1,700 km and the coastal zone is of considerable socio-economic importance.

Sri Lanka also has extensive freshwater and brackish water resources to sustain viable fishing activities. Opportunities exist for brackish water aquaculture on an extent of around 6,000 acres in Puttalam, Hambantota, Galle, Batticaloa, Mannar, Jaffna and Trincomalee.

The fisheries sector in Sri Lanka has also emerged as a dynamic export oriented sector providing considerable foreign exchange to the country.

It is recognised as a sector with high potential to earn foreign exchange earnings by exporting marine and fresh water fish and fishery products to the international market.

The value of exports has increased from US$ 103 Mn in 2005 to US$ 202 Mn in 2010 indicating an average growth of 15 percent. The main export markets for Sri Lanka are the European Union, Japan and the USA. Sri Lanka's strategic position in the Indian Ocean has created easy access to fishery resources that are in growing demand in the export market such as Yellow fin Tuna, Sword Fish and Marlin.

The Government has given special attention to analyse opportunities available in the Northern and the Eastern coastal areas in the island and also to implement accelerated development projects as this zone has contributed to a major share of the fish production in the country during the past.

Sri Lanka has been a member of INFOFISH from its inception since 1981.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen addresses the 26th session of INFOFISH Governing Council at Cinnamon Lake. Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Export Development Board Chairman Janaka Ratnayaka look on.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board is the liaison body for INFOFISH in Sri Lanka. I am specially thankful to the FAO and the INFOFISH for the valuable support provided in the past in the development of fisheries sector in Sri Lanka and believe you will continue with your support in our future development programs specially during this paradigm shift in economic development. I wish to request the support of INFOFISH to develop sustainable inland aquaculture projects in Sri Lanka to fulfill the supply requirements in the aspects of food security and exports. The mega exhibition Sri Lanka Expo 2012 scheduled for March 2012."

Chairman and CEO of the Export Development Board (EDB) and Chairman of INFOFISH Governing Council, Janaka Ratnayake said: The "EDB is optimistic of achieving US $ 1 billion export revenue in fresh water fish exports by 2020. Fisheries is a promising sector to achieve our export target of $ 15 b by 2015. More than 120 Sri Lankan exporters send our fish products to destinations such as Japan, USA and the EU.

The EDB has many strategies to strengthen this sector such as seafood exhibitions, assistance to adopt modern technology in an echo friendly manner, assistance to obtain international standards, and assistance to obtain market information."

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said: "Sri Lanka has a tradition of sea faring from time immemorial.

Thus, it is logical for us to depend on the vast ocean areas around us, to cater for the growing animal protein requirement of our population.

This is why my Ministry has laid emphasis in increased fish production from marine and aquaculture sectors.

To achieve this, we have embarked on an accelerated programme, in line with the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma, the vision document of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We hope to increase production to nearly 600,000 metric tons by 2013, from the present production of around 400,000mt.

This will increase per capita fish consumption from the present 16gms/head/day to 60gms, in line with WHO recommended daily protein intake for maintaining health and well-being. We also hope to almost double our aquaculture production to 90,000 metric tons, to support this effort," he said.