Promoting sustainable aquaculture in Sri Lanka :

Oyster farming to become more rewarding

Text and pictures by Christie Fernando, Chilaw special cor

The booming oyster farming is a profitable venture for two coastal communities in the Puttalam lagoon that led to the country's first ever oyster exports.

It has become a growing domestic market.

"Our target in this project is to support impoverished communities particularly the women to develop oyster culture and create a sustainable income to improve their livelihoods," Dr. Tim Dejager, a Canadian project co-leader who is assisting the families for sustainable living said.

It is praiseworthy that a research development project supported by the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund, is working with 26 families in Gangewadiya in Kalpitiya.

A group of 20 enterprising women from 10 families in Kandakuliya, in the Puttalam district is also involved in the project.

The Canadian researchers with a Sri Lankan in the project have studied local conditions, collected knowledge, identified sites and techniques for healthy growth and seed ("spat") collection.

Oysters can be productively cultured to a marketable size within a period of 12 months or less using simple rack and pouch systems set up in suitable areas of the lagoon.

"This project, which was initiated by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), is significant because oysters are an untapped resource and I hope with this initiative we will be able to develop the thriving oyster industry in Sri Lanka," said chairman of NARA, Dr. Sayura Samarasundara.

Community members have formed oyster farm organisations.

They are linked to a participating private sector firm: Tropical Oysters (Pvt), that provides technical support and equipment.

It buys oysters and is developing domestic and export markets.

Leader of the Kandakuliya Women's Oyster Society Shermila Perera described her vision: "Twenty women who are low income earners are involved in the oyster culture program.

"We are grateful and happy to grab this opportunity and are hopeful that it will improve the incomes of our families."

"Our fishing activities do not sufficiently commensurate with the hard work and toil we put in and we cannot entirely depend on the sea for our living any longer, she said. We must be engaged in this lucrative oyster culture industry for the welfare of our livelihoods she said.

Oysters are filter feeders, eating naturally abundant plankton in the water and are susceptible to environmental change.

Large influxes of freshwater entering estuaries and lagoons can reduce salinity levels leading to mortalities or transmit contamination from sources such as agriculture, industry and waste matter.

Oysters may also accumulate toxins from certain types of algae species that can pose human as health risks, Dr Tim Dejager said.

"NARA is carrying out research work related to develop very safe and very high quality products to the market to ensure the sustainability of the oyster farming industry in Sri Lanka" said NARA Deputy Director General Research and Development, Dr. Palitha Kithsiri.

NARA monitors the water in the lagoon as well as oysters at the farm sites and conducts laboratory analysis for contaminants, providing alerts to growers and value chain actors when risks are present, Dr Tim. Dejager said.

We are developing this project and testing purification systems, using sterilised seawater - called 'depuration'.

NARA labs ensure they meet international standards for food safety and quality test 'depurated' oysters.

Research into oyster farming began in Sri Lanka in the 1980s led by Prof WMTB Wanninayake with the collaboration of International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

"As a member of the present research team, his dream of building a sustainable oyster industry in Sri Lanka is on track to become a reality."

Oysters grow naturally and abundantly in the lagoons and mangroves of Sri Lanka.

These resources provide the seed and sustenance for farming oysters but they must be protected and sustained Dr Tim Dejager said.

"The project research ensures that aquaculture is continued in harmony with the existing sensitive environments."

Sri Lanka has great potential to develop this industry and plans are ahead to expand to promote oyster as well as mussel culture in the Puttalam Lagoon and in the districts of Mannar and Trincomalee and other coastal areas as well Dr Tim Dejager said.

This project with the aim of promoting sustainable Aquaculture in Sri Lanka is carried out with the collaboration of the Wayamba University, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries and the British Columbia Aquatic Food Resources Society (Canada) with partners in Sri Lanka including NARA, the North Western Provincial Council Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Production and Development, irrigation and Agrarian Development, the Eastern Provincial Council Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Production and Development, Rural Industries Development, Fisheries and Tourism and other private sector partners.

The project was undertaken with the financial support of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Government of Canada, provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD), Canada International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Dr Tim Dejager said.