Boost for inland aquaculture
Ishara Mudugamuwa
National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, Inland
Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division are conducting programs to
develop inland aquaculture, said Head of Division Dr Palitha Kithsiri.
“As there is a big demand for our endemic fish varieties in the
global market we are conducting endemic fish breeding program. We have
bred 10 endemic species. There are 44 endemic species in the country and
we have 22. We have also identified two more varieties which have a big
demand and will breed them,” he said.
He said that the Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division
conducts programs on viral and bacterial diseases management for farmers
engaged in ornamental fish farming mainly regarding ornamental fish
disease prevention and control.
“The lack of high quality fingerlings is a major problem in Sri
Lankan Aquaculture sector. Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture
Division has produced two high quality and will introduce them for
aquaculture farmers.
“Fishermen do not have technical knowledge on how to do small fish
harvesting in inland reservoirs. This badly affects the inland fish
production,” said the Division Head.
Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division also conduct
community based fish breeding and aquaculture program in Mannar and will
hope to conduct this program in other areas in Northern province as
well.
“We are also conducting programs to improve polyculture fish farming
with the objective of increasing the production,” he said. |
