Ministry targets Rs. 2,000m on ornamental fish exports

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has taken steps to increase the income from ornamental fish exports to Rs. 2,000 million within the next couple of years. The Ministry hopes

to achieve this goal by increasing the export volume of ornamental fish. The authorities will provide all assistance to breeders, Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Sri Lanka has secured the third place in the world among countries which export ornamental fish, Dr. Senaratne said.

Ornamental fish production which was 46,506 metric tons in 2009 increased to 69,780 by 2013, an increase of 50 percent.

Sri Lanka earned Rs. 750 million in 2005 from ornamental fish exports and it increased to Rs. 1212 million. Compared to 2012 ornamental fish exports have increased 35 percent this year.

"A long-term plan has been implemented under the supervision of National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) to achieve targeted export goal", the Minister said.

Rs. 2.13 million was allocated to 82 people in Bandaragama to launch ornamental fish farms. The Ministry has granted Rs. 6.07 million financial to 62 ornamental fish breeders of 164, Fisheries Ministry Media Spokesman D.S. Narendra Rajapaksa said.

The Fisheries Ministry has helped improve ornamental fish farming and the freshwater fishery industry as well. Ornamental fish production is going on successfully, the spokesman said.

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry hopes to set up ornamental fish farms in the Colombo district, he said.