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.