Minister calls for immediate steps to control parasite among prawn farms | Daily News

Minister calls for immediate steps to control parasite among prawn farms

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda in discussions with Thailand Ambassador Poj Hornpol the ways to control the parasite.  Picture by Nimal Wijesinghe
Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda in discussions with Thailand Ambassador Poj Hornpol the ways to control the parasite. Picture by Nimal Wijesinghe

The Fisheries Ministry has instructed the NAQDA and the NARA to take immediate action to control fast spreading parasite called Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) among the prawn farms and cultivations in the country.

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda met the officials at the Ministry recently and requested them to take an immediate research to find ways and means for thwarting the disease.

"There shall be laboratory tests to judge whether the parasite is breeding from the food catered to the prawns or from mother prawns being imported to the local prawns breeding centres.”

It is learnt the disease being infected by the parasite Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei invading almost all prawn breeding enclosures or ponds and the NAQDA and the NARA researchers are testing samples from prawn farms.

Thailand Sri Lanka Ambassdor Poj Hornpol recently met Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda and has consented to assist in freshwater fish industry. The Ambassdor has informed the Minister that a number of businessmen have been waiting to invest in Sri Lanka's prawns breeding and processing industry. The Minister has agreed to provide all necessary infra-structural facilities for promoting aquatic resources as wished by the Thai investors.

Ministry Secretary Indu Rathnayake, Fisheries Director General Susantha Kahawattha, NARA Director General Dr. Palitha Kithsiriwere were present.

 



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