Fisheries industry eyes more avenues

Ridma Dissanayake

Measures are in place to initiate various projects for development of the fisheries industry. According to this programme the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry will initiate sea leeches farming project and the aquaculture plants farming project soon, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

Sea leeches farming is to be introduced in Sri Lanka for the first time and it is to commence from the Mannar district.

The aquaculture plants farming project is also to commence in the Northern Province and the ministry hopes to provide 20,000 employment opportunities to Northern community, he said.

“We hope to initiateModha fish farming projects and we hope to export around 4000 metric tons of aquaculture plants. “We also hope to export sea leeches to Vietnam as well. “All these measures have been taken by the ministry to develop the fisheries industry while using modern technology,” the minister said.

Satellite technology is also to be introduced to the fisheries industry with the aim of increasing fish production and all other measures are also in place to double the fish production in Sri Lanka.

All illegal vessels and equipment hitherto used in the fisheries industry also have been banned, he further said.