Lanka Sites

Programs are being conducted to develop inland aquaculture with the corporation of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division says the Head of the Division Dr Palitha Kithsiri. He also said that there is a huge demand for our endemic fish diversity in the global market and so they are now conducting endemic fish breeding programs.

There are 44 endemic fish species in the island and there are around 22 with them. They have also been able to identify 02 demanding more varieties and they hope to breed them as well. Programs on viral and bacterial diseases management for farmers engaged in ornamental fish farming largely concerning ornamental fish disease prevention and control is also conducted by the Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division says Dr Kithsiri. There is also a lack of high quality fingerlings and it is a major problem in Sri Lankan Aquaculture sector and so the Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division has taken steps to produce two high quality sectors and give them over to aquaculture farmers. The Head of the Division Dr Kithsiri also said that the lack of technical knowledge that the Fishermen do not have on how to do small fish harvesting in inland reservoirs badly affects the inland fish production.

The Inland Aquatic Resources and Aquaculture Division is also conducting community based fish breeding and aquaculture programs in Mannar and hopes to carry out this program in other areas in Northern province as well.

@ LANKAPUVATH