Lanka's fish exports top $106 million in 2005

by Elmo Leonard

Sri Lanka's exports of fish and fisheries products for 2005, overcame the tsunami destruction to fishing craft and reached $106 million, against $100 million in foreign sales during 2004.

The total volume of exports for 2004 was 13,680 tonnes, and the tonnage of last year's sales is yet to be computed by the fisheries ministry. But, the increase in export performance, pricewise, comes from 140 foreign fishing craft being issued with landing permits in the year past, against 120 permits issued in 2004, according to the Ministry of Fisheries.

Some of the foreign fishing companies landing in the fisheries harbours, here, are big names in the trade; all have their catch processed and airfreighted.

Some fish caught in the Maldivian waters is brought to our fisheries harbours, fisheries statistician for the fisheries ministry, J.A.D.B. Jayasooriya said.

Sri Lanka's exports of fish mainly reach Japan, USA and the 25-member European Union Nations and comprises largely, tuna, swordfish, marlin and shrimp. Shrimp accounts for around $20 million from shipments of 5,000 tonnes, Ms Sepalika Wickremasinghe, acting deputy director (quality control) of the Ministry of Fisheries said.

It is likely that Sri Lanka will stay at List I of Third World countries authorised to export fish to the EU nations, following a two-week inspection visit by food and veterinary inspectors, ended last month.

The report of Drs. Bruno Brigaudeau and Graham Wood, from the Veterinary Office of the European Commission, in Ireland, will be out before the end of the month, Wickremasinghe who accompanied the mission said.

Sri Lanka climbed into List I on the EU listing, in 2000 with an EU mission finding that the island's exports fit into the EU methodology for fisheries products reaching European destinations.

The Maldives, Sri Lanka's arch rival in exports of tuna to the European Union, achieved List I on EU listing, more recently, tuna exporter, Roshan Fernando of Tropic Frozen Foods, said.

Of Sri Lanka's 22 approved fish processing establishments, 15 have obtained EU approval, A Hettiarachchi, director general (development) of the Ministry of Fisheries, said.

The EU inspection purview covers the competent authority on fisheries, here, being the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic resources and the inspection of its services; testing laboratories; fish processing establishments; landing sites/fisheries harbours; fishing boats and shrimp farms.

Among random checks carried out by the EU mission, included inspection of the Beruwela fisheries harbour, six laboratories, to check for safety of the products, histamine content, contamination with heavy metals such as mercury and lead.
