At a discussion with the representatives of the Association of Shrimp Culturists, held on 2024-04-26 at the Ministry of Fisheries, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda stated that Sri Lanka’s shrimp culture has suffered a collapse due to several issues that have arisen in the past and instructed the Officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and NAQDA institute to take prompt measures to find solutions to the issues to bring back the shrimp culture to its normal state.
The Minister further commented that due to viral diseases in the local shrimp culture and fungal diseases due to the wrong culture methods, the harvest has decreased compared to previous years, and the necessary research work has been carried out at NARA and NAQDA institutes to find solutions to these issues. The Minister also pointed out that the necessary measures should be taken to restore shrimp culture and bring foreign exchange to the country as soon as possible.
The Minister sought the views of the owners of shrimp breeding centers and responding to their views, the Minister instructed the Ministry Officials to provide relief including the scheme for Small and Medium-scale enterprises (S.M.E ) proposed by the president.
Addressing the shrimp culturists, the Minister said that shrimp culturists incur great losses since they don’t get relevant instruction from the officials when carrying out this culture. If they carry out this culture without following the instructions properly, the environment is affected very badly, and hence the wastewater and other materials should be evacuated properly.
This discussion was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries Miss. Nayana Kumari Somarathne, Director General of the Department of Fisheries Mr. Susantha Kahawaththa, Chairman of NAQDA Prof. B. Wijerathna, Director General of NAQDA Dr. Asoka, the representatives of Shrimp Culturists Association and the top officials of the Ministry.
