Taprobane Seafoods announces strategic diversificat ion plans to cement pioneering status

State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Inland Fish and Prawn Farming, Fishery Harbour Development, Multi-day Fishing Activities and Fish Exports Kanchana Wijesekera, Rev. Father Nelson and Taprobane Seafoods Director Mahela Jayawardena cutting the ribbon at the opening of Taprobane Aqua Service in Madampe

Taprobane Seafoods Director Nathan Sivagananathan, Taprobane Seafoods Director Dilan Fernando, Taprobane Seafoods Director Sathya Rathnayake, Taprobane Seafoods Director Mahela Jayawardena and Taprobane Seafoods Managing Director Timothy O’Reilly

 Taprobane Seafoods Director Dilan Fernando, NAQDA Chairman Jayantha Wijeratne, State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera’s Secretary Jayantha Chandrasoma, Taprobane Seafoods Director Mahela Jayawardena, Taprobane Seafoods Director Sathya Rathnayake, Taprobane Seafoods Director Nathan Sivagananathan and Taprobane Seafoods Managing Director Timothy O’Reilly handing over the first bag of feed to State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Inland Fish and Prawn Farming, Fishery Harbour Development, Multi-day Fishing Activities and Fish Exports Kanchana Wijesekera

Taprobane Seafoods, Sri Lanka’s largest and most integrated seafood company is gearing up to announce a host of new strategic initiatives. 

The company is introducing new shrimp services by leveraging on its first-mover status as the pioneer of SPF Vannamei, a shrimp variety that is disease-free and in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s law of 2021 to ensure only shrimp coming from disease-free broodstock could be farmed in Sri Lanka. 

The company owns the only hatchery that brings down broodstock from Hawaii for breeding and has recently been awarded a hatchery on the east coast by the Government. The expansion by the company into shrimp farming will provide more employment opportunities in Sri Lanka, thereby increasing export revenues to develop the national economy. 

Adding value for the shrimp farmer, the company launched Taprobane Aqua Services, a one-stop-shop for all aquaculture products and services. The building in Chilaw represents collaboration, innovation and acceleration, showcasing Taprobane’s blueprint to drive a sustainable and eco-friendly shrimp sector through controlled intensification. 

The benefits to the farmer will be reducing middlemen and paying direct to farmers, thus ensuring good prices; working with the government on policies, regulations and infrastructure (for example, electrification, cannel dredging and roads); helping older generation farmers move more quickly into utilising new technology; shifting mindsets and onboarding farmers on to new production and platforms; working with the government to change the lingering sentiment that shrimp farming is bad; protecting our environment, and 100% transparency within our sector to ensure human rights are being protected. 

Diversifying further, Taprobane launches Taprobane Feed, in collaboration with Skretting, a Norwegian company and a world leader in aquaculture feed, which will pack the feed sold by Taprobane.

“Taprobane Group, and its integrated approach, plays the pivotal lead that Sri Lanka needs to embrace the Vannamei shrimp farming opportunity in the right way. Vannamei shrimp farming is a global and competitive industry that requires technical capabilities, some certain level of investments, serious traceability, and sustainability engagements that Sri Lanka has all potential to cope best with and become a major source for top quality products. Skretting, the global leader in aquaculture feed, feels excited to join forces with Taprobane Group in building this level of exigence that Sri Lankan prawn farmers will be proud of,” said Nutreco Vietnam and Skretting Excellence Asia General Manager Marc Le Poul.

In yet another strategic move, Taprobane has entered a partnership with UTE (Caterpillar) to offer farmers, equipment on lease or purchase for aquaculture.  One of the main cost components of farming is electricity and Taprobane’ expansion of its shrimp farming business, will be supported by a UTE salesperson at the location where farmers can lease or buy heavy machinery, generators, etc., when renovating existing earthen shrimp ponds. 

Taprobane Seafoods Managing Director Timothy O’Reilly said: “As a pioneer and first-mover in aquaculture, Taprobane Seafoods’ vision for its growth and expansion also encompasses how Sri Lanka can develop this industry as a niche export segment that earns valuable foreign exchange for the country. The series of initiatives we have taken as we enter 2022 reflects Taprobane’ blueprint for building the future of the Sri Lankan Shrimp Industry whilst ensuring diversification and value addition in our operations.” 

UTE-CAT Chief Marketing Officer Anasuya Gunasena said: “As a company with a 74-yearold history, UTE provides comprehensive solutions across a multitude of industries with the many parts of the company’s operations coming together in one strong brand to enable its smooth journey forward. We have established market leadership across numerous industries we serve. UTE enjoys a close relationship with CAT from the early days of the company. Over the years we have also forged partnerships with many other world leading brands, and currently host an impressive portfolio of international market leaders.”

Established in 2010, Taprobane Seafood has 15 processing facilities, employing over 2000 direct employees throughout the North-Western and Northern Provinces. Its uniqueness stems from the fact that all the employees who work in the processing plants in the north are women, from the security guard to the supervisors and managers including war widows who are the breadwinners of their families.