The Anuradhapura District Aquaculture Development Authority has taken steps to promote freshwater fish production using 500 seasonal tanks in the Anuradhapura District.
Anuradhapura District Aquaculture Extension Officer Jayabahu Senerath told the Daily News that six million fingerlings have been released to a number of selected rural tanks.
He also said that the fingerlings were provided by the Government Aquaculture Breeding Centres in Dambulla, Kalawewa and Udawalawa and from 25 private fish breeding centres in the district. “The Authority buys the fingerling at Rs. 2.50 each from the breeders,” he added.
“'Anuradhapura District has around 5,000 families engaged in freshwater fishing industry and the number has been increasing. We will harvest 17.000 metric tonnes of freshwater fish in the next three years. At present, we produce only 12,000 MT per annum. We will increase the number of fingerlings that we release 32 million fingerlings to minor irrigation and medium scale tanks by 2024. The National Aquaculture Development Authority is also providing training, technology, fishing boats and gear to ensure job security and a larger fish harvest,” Jayabahu Senarath said.
He also said that parallel to promoting the freshwater fish production, steps have been taken to promote the ornamental fish breeding industry in the Anuradhapura District. According to him, 250 entrepreneurs are now engaged in the industry and since 2021, Rs. 12.5 million has been granted to them to improve the industry. He added that the ornamental fish industry was promoted as a foreign exchange earner.
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