Sri Lanka - port of innovation for land-based aquaculture development

By W.T.J.S. Kaviratne Ambalangoda special cor

Norway is the world's second largest seafood exporter and a leading nation in the aquaculture industry. As far back as 1866 it was a Norwegian marine biologist - G.O. Sars who made groundbreaking advances in Aquaculture Science with the first artificial hatching of cod.

The land-based aquaculture farm complex for Asian species of fish - Sea Baas (Barramundi) designed and engineered by Hobas as an internationally recognised Norwegian aquaculture specialist, is fast reaching its completion at Thalahena, Negombo on the West coast of Sri Lanka.

Thalahena's land-based aquaculture farm according to the Managing Director of Hobas Asbjorn Drengstig is the first of its nature in existence anywhere in the world. Drengstig said, initially the fingerlings of "Asian Sea Bass" (Barramundi), a fish species usually found in sub tropical regions in Asia and the Pacific will be introduced to the huge tank of the aquaculture farm complex. The Asian Sea Bass is fit to be harvested when the size of the fish reaches about 2.5 cm. Referring to the land-based RAS Aquaculture Farm at Thalahena, Drengstig reiterated that it was an experimental demonstration farm for the prospective land-based aquaculture industrialists in Sri Lanka and countries in the Asian region.

The availability of services of Hobas trained Sri Lankan aquaculture technicians and collaboration of AJ Fishing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. providing all the innovative fibre glass solutions are the contributory key factors making Sri Lanka the 'Port of Innovative Technology' on land-based aquaculture for Asia.

Asbjorn Drengstig said that the transfer of cutting-edge technology on land-based aquaculture to business partners interested in the industry in Sri Lanka is the vision of NORAD launching its Match Making Program (MMP).

"In addition it could pave the way to new business ventures and help create new employment opportunities in the fishery sector of Sri Lanka. In tune with the aims of NORAD and the MMP affiliated to it, Hobas can be proud of its achievements in the sphere of aquaculture and the opportunity created for Hobas to introduce this novel technology to Sri Lanka and the rest of the countries in the Asian region," Drengstig said.

"The Sri Lankan technicians after training have been working for the last several years on manufacturing equipment and gained experience of the novel concept envisaged by Hobas on land-based aquaculture technology. When these factors are taken into consideration I am confident that, transfer of technology has already been achieved by Hobas, thanks to NORAD and MMP", Drengstig said.

For more than two years these Sri Lankan technicians have been engaged in producing all the required modules and components of the aquaculture industry out of fibreglass at the state-of-art factory complex of AJ Fishing Industries Ltd at Katunayake.

Northern Norway's largest salmon smolt farm had been designed and engineered by Hobas and the construction work was successfully completed by the Sri Lankan team of technicians of AJ Fishing.

Drengstig said the model land-based aquaculture farm at Thalahena could also facilitate the documentation required for the monitoring of the potential impact of using intensive farming technology practised in the developed countries when introduced in the developing countries.

In addition, Hobas is in possession of vital databases gathered through its extensive scientific research on the biological and technological aspects of fish species and a diversified array of aquaculture farms ranging from earthen and concrete ponds, land-based tank systems, raceway systems to the sea-based aquaculture industry.

Hobas provides aquaculture designs, engineering services for customers from developing the concept to its realisation. Hobas has become a leading supplier of expertise and technology in promoting diverse forms of the aquaculture industry in Thailand, India, Turkey, Ireland, Oman, Pakistan, Spain, Scotland and the Faroe Islands.

Hobas provides general aquaculture training on numerous aspects of aquaculture comprising hatching of eggs, handling of fry, juveniles and the management during growth.

Hobas provides basic to high tech training on aquaculture - cutting-edge technology on the areas of aeration and drainage of lands, larval incubators, crustacean breeding, raceway systems, pond aerating and feeding rafters for ponds.

As water quality is a key factor in the aquaculture industry, Hobas provides training on complex water quality dynamics relevant to the interactions between the chemical, physical and physiological processes in water. Since its inception in 1998 as a Norwegian SME, Hobas has been backed by a wide range of experience and expertise in the sphere of fish and shellfish farming.

Hobas provides skill enhancement projects and technology for the land-based aquaculture farm systems designed for saline, brackish or freshwater species of fish and shellfish.

Over the years, Hobas has made vast strides in the aquaculture industry and it became a subsidiary of the Norwegian Lobster Farm Corporation which is the first land-based lobster farm of its nature in the world.

Hobas has identified Sri Lanka as a 'Port of Innovation' in producing all equipment required in the aquaculture industry.

To facilitate product developments in the Asian region, Hobas established a joint venture in 2005 with A J Fishing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. in the Free Trade Zone, Katunayake.

The Norwegian proprietor of A J Fishing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd.Arnulf Sandvik said that since 1982 he has been engaged in the production of fishing gear in Negombo. In 1986 he relocated his factory A.J. Fishing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. to the Free Trade Zone, Katunayake.

A J Fishing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. as a Hobas production facility in Sri Lanka provided ample opportunities in the transfer of innovative technology on the aquaculture industry to the Sri Lankan technicians.

Asbjorn Drenstig during his recent visit to Sri Lanka revealed that NORAD's Match Making Program (MMP) paved the way for Hobas to internationalize its aquaculture products in addition to its services and the transfer of expertise and technology.

As a direct result of the positive support extended by the NORAD and the Project Manager of Advance Business Partner AS in Oslo, Norway affiliated to MMP, the gateway to the fisheries sectors in the Asian region and Sri Lanka has been wide opened to Hobas AS, since 1999.

Advance Business Partner AS in Oslo, Norway and its collaborative Sri Lankan partner the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) have been the key players in providing assistance in sourcing and assessing the potential business partners engaged in numerous spheres of industries in Sri Lanka including the fisheries sector.