Inland fisheries generates Rs. 2.8 billion

Benefits enter rural households

by Elmo Leonard

The inland fisheries sector produces 35,000 tonnes of fish per year, amounting to 12 percent of the island's fish catch, and generates Rs. 2.8 billion (Rs. 108 to a US dollar) at harvest point. Produced and consumed by the peasantry in rural Sri Lanka, the money generated and other benefits of inland fisheries enter the rural household.

In 2003, the inland fisheries catch estimated at 30,000 tonnes is targeted to reach 60,000 tonnes under the Aquatic Resources Quality Improvement Project (AQIP) now in its halfway stage.

The base for this socio-economic gold pot is Sri Lanka's irrigation reservoirs and all other water bodies found all over the country, being concentrated in the rural dry zone.

Sri Lanka's inland fish catch comprises the species: Tilapia nilotica, Carp varieties as Ruhu, Catla, Mrigal, common carps and Big Head carp.

AQIP comes under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and its project director is Jayantha Chandrasoma, a fish biologist. The six-year project requires $30 million, Asian Development Bank provides $20 million, Sri Lanka government, $6.5 million, National Development Trust Fund (a micro credit provider) $1.6 million and the balance by private sector and rural based organisations.

The AQIP object is the enhancement of food security and providing employment opportunities among the rural poor. The base is the irrigation reservoirs scattered throughout the island, mainly in the dry zone. The largest being the Senanayake Samudra, Inginiyagala in the Ampara district, being 19,000 acres it produces 6,000 tonnes of inland fish per year. It affords employment for 150 fishers and 40 sellers who distribute the fish on bicycles.

Among other large water bodies are Parakrama Samudura in Polonnaruwa and Valachchiya in Padaviya, near Anuradhapura.

The ground for inland fisheries are the large perennial reservoirs such as the Senanayake Samudura, medium reservoirs, more common in the country and seasonal reservoirs. The last named, are well over 10,000 in number and possibly much more, which fills up with monsoon rains with water lasting for 7-8 months to make fish harvesting possible, Chandrasoma said. Seasonal water bodies produce 750 to 1,000 kilos of fish per hectare.

Over 20,000 people are engaged in inland fisheries. Inland fish average Rs. 80-100 per kilo wholesale, at the point of landing. Retailers at Rs. 140-150 per kilogram.

Fish fry up to 2.5 centimetres are produced in three large aqua culture development centres, in Udawalawe, Dambulla and other in Ampara, belonging to the National Aqua Culture Development Authority, (NAQDA). The fish fry is purchased by private sector entrepreneurs and community based seed production units and sold when they grow into 5-6 centimetres, called fingerlings. The fingerlings are let out into the water bodies for later harvesting. Tilapia seed is unnecessary, but to ensure a broader genetic pool, government facilitates the introduction of a limited amount of Tilapia fry, Chandrasoma said.

With AQIP, the availability of seed to the industry is increasing. Currently, there are 16 centres involved in producing fish fry, including Andiyagamana, Hambantota and Alugalge in Kesselanda in the Moneragala district.

The Fisheries Ministry also encourages NAQDA to establish aqua enterprises with private sector participation.

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