Aquaculture and the inland fisheries industry is important in rural areas of Sri Lanka as it provides a source of income, nutritious food and improves living standards, reports
DailyNews.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the Wayamba province Min Visithuru exhibition in Madampe, Chilaw, Dr Senaratne said: These industries provide direct employment to over 20,000 people and indirectly helps about 50,000 people. We have made arrangements to grant Rs 35,000 for ornamental fish industrialists under the Divi Neguma programme and hope to increase it to Rs 75,000 at the second phase of the programme.
Fisheries provide 70 per cent of the total animal protein requirement of the country, with aquaculture representing 46 per cent of this, the minister said.
Aquaculture has also grown by 8.3 per cent in the animal production sector, he said.
Increase in Inland Fish Harvest Forecast for 2013
SRI LANKA - The inland fish harvest has increased by 36 per cent at the end of last year resulting in an increase up to 59,560 metric tons. Measures are in place to increase it to 98,000 metric tons by 2013, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said.
by Lucy Towers
