Fresh water fish exports: Can Sri Lanka get a big catch?

Sri Lanka has every opportunity to emerge as a fresh water fish exporter if we consider augmenting inland fishery production similar to what is being done in Vietnam.

If a systematic approach can be adopted, augmentation of fresh water fish may bring about:

• Increase in exports 
• Give birth to many new entrepreneurs in the MSME sector 
• Provide gainful employment to thousands of people
• Will provide the much-needed protein content in the diet of the rural communities in our country

Vietnam example

Vietnam, a country very similar to our environmental and topographic conditions in many provinces, in spite of the challenges of COVID-19, in year 2020, has achieved an aquaculture export volume of $ 8.4 billion, of which 46% was for farm production of fresh fish (excluding shrimps). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1028061/vietnam-main-aquaculture-production-volume/ 

As per the FAO Country Report of January 2019, https://www.fao.org/fishery/facp/vnm/en approximately four million people were employed in the fisheries primary sector in Vietnam. Aquaculture employs an estimated 2.6 million people, with one million jobs in shrimp aquaculture, while another 1.8 million people are engaged in marine fisheries.

Around 8.5 million people (10% of the total population) derive their main income directly or indirectly from fisheries. Most fishers and aqua culturists are small-scale producers. Around 30% of the dietary animal protein consumed by people in Vietnam derives from different aquatic products.

Sri Lanka advantage 

We have abundance of water bodies in our country which can be used for further development of aqua farming. Water from downstream of reservoirs built by our kings, several rivers and tributaries that drain our river water to the sea can be used for farming fresh water fish varieties such as tilapia and catfish, the main varieties exported by Vietnam. 

Tilapia can also be farmed in blackish water and be bred in floating cages and pens in our reservoirs as practiced in countries like China, Indonesia, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, and Brazil.

Tilapia – there are two main varieties;

• Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) bred in freshwater, and 
• Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) bred in brackish water. 

Catfish (Pangasius): We have the conditions in Sri Lanka that are ideal for catfish that require a water temperature of 22-30°C, with pH between 6.5 and 9.5. In the ponds we create we will be able to manage the turbidity that is required for farming of catfish. The ideal pond compartment is 1,600 to 2,400 sqm. The ideal water depth is 1.5 to 2 metres.

Market potential

Tilapia: Exported in fillet and gilled and gutted basis has a growing market in Middle Eastern and European countries. Tilapia is popular among Asian workers living in Middle Eastern countries and Europe. There is also a demand for tilapia in Far Eastern and South Asian countries.

The firm texture and mild flavour of tilapia make it ideal for a variety of cooking methods – pan fried, broiled, baked or cooked. Tilapia readily absorbs the robust flavour of spicy marinades, creamy sauces and subtle seasonings.

Catfish (Pangasius)

Exported in fillet form, it has a growing market in the Middle East, Europe and USA. Popularly received in the markets as pan ready, its flesh has a light, firm texture and a mild flavour. Catfish is an excellent source of high-quality protein and healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids. Mild taste and flaky, firm texture make it popular worldwide.

One reason or cattish is so popular is its cost. It is cheap to grow and harvest, making it competitively priced, when exported abroad.

As the farmed catfish need to be processed to fillet form and tilapia need to be processed to fillet and gilled and gutted form, substantial investments are required in the processing sector.

Areas of investment needed to augment the production of fresh water fish:

• Farming ponds with inflow of water and periodic water removal systems
• Freezer rooms and temperature controlled processing facilities
• Reefer trucks and other transport vehicles.

(Athulla R.F. Edirisinghe is an export development consultant, Founder Partner of Strategic Management Alliance and the Founding Director of Japan Ceylon Business Connectivity Ltd.)