NAQDA develops aquaculture
Ishara MUDUGAMUWA
The National Aquaculture Development Authority(NAQDA) is conducting a
number of programs to develop aquaculture and inland fisheries sector
with the objectives of improving inland and aquaculture fish production
and fish consumption, said National Aquaculture Development Authority
Director General Nimal Chandraratne.
"We hope to produce 90,000 MTs of inland fish by 2013. We also hope
to increase annual per capita fish consumption of rural community from
11kgs to 21 kgs." he said. The Director General said the authority will
increase the fish breading from 34 million to 42 million this year.
Shrimp farming is the main commercial aquaculture industry in the
country. Puttalam lagoon is one of the shrimp farming areas which
produces 4,700 MTs of shrimps per year.
It is necessary to develop shrimp farming in other parts of the
country. Batticaloa has been recognized as a suitable district. More
than 100 farms have established in the Batticaloa district. The
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has established a
hatchery in Batticaloa at a cost of 80 million." he said.
There are 45 lagoons in Sri Lanka and most of them are in the North.
The NAQDA has started a shrimp stocking program in the Northern
Province, the Director General said.
He said the NAQDA will develop sea bass farming with the support of
the FAO as the second financial aquaculture industry. There is a big
demand for sea bass in foreign countries.
The ornamental fish industry will also be developed. Rambodagalla
Ornamental Fish Breading Centre which is running under the NAQDA will
provide practical knowledge and new species for farmers, he said. |
