SL third in income among ornamental fish exporting countries Sri Lanka ranks third in income among all ornamental fish exporting countries in the world. During the last year Sri Lanka earned Rs 1,212 million by exporting ornamental fish and arrangements are in place to double this income by 2016, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. The minister was addressing a special discussion with ornamental fish exporters at the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry. The ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka and was started in 1952 as a commercial industry. Sri Lanka exports marine, freshwater, brackish water fish species and marine invertebrates. Freshwater aquarium fish comprise the more colourful and more striking species of guppies, swordtails, platys, barbs, tetras, angels, gouramis and catfish. Out of these freshwater species exported from Sri Lanka about 60-70 percent comprise famous fancy guppies for which there is high recognition in the international market due to the strength and high diversity of the particular fish species when compared to the other countries. In 2005 the income earned by ornamental fish exports was only Rs. 750 million and now it has increased up to Rs 1,212 million. It is a significant growth in the Sri Lankan ornamental fish industry, the minister explained. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Ministry Secretary Dr. D. M. R. B. Dissanayake, National Aquatic Resources Development Authority (NAQDA) Chairman Jayantha Chandrasoma, Fisheries Director General Nimal Hettiarachchi and a number of fish and fish products exporters were present.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 04:25:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015