Lifting of EU ban opened Rs. 7 b market for seafood

The removal of the European Union’s ban on fish exports and regaining the GSP+ tariff concession have opened up a Rs. 7 billion market for Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry, Minister of Primary Industries Daya Gamage said.

Minister Gamage made this remark recently during a meeting with shrimp farmers in the Puttalam District.

The Minister, noting that the shrimp industry was under pressure due to the prevailing dry weather, told the shrimp farmers that with the rains arriving the problems would be resolved.

Minister Gamage promised the farmers that a program will be initiated for them to obtain low-interest bank loans. The Minister also participated in the inspection of shrimp ponds.

Sri Lanka has launched an accelerated program to develop aquaculture particularly in the North and East. According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development prawn and Shrimp production is continuing to increase. In 2014 Sri Lanka produced 5,040 metric tonnes of aquaculture prawns and shrimps and the production increased to 7,090 metric tonnes in 2015. (Colombopage)