COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development has decided to temporarily suspend the importation of canned fish and fish varieties as the island’s fish harvest has increased. Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Amaraweera held a discussion with the fish traders at the main Peliyagoda Fish Market and thy have informed the Minster that that the fish harvest from the Southern sea and other sea areas is gradually increasing. As a result, the prices of several varieties of fish such as Linna, Balaya, Paraw, Kumbalawa, Salaya, Sprats and Anjilawaa have come down.
Accordingly, the Minister has decided to temporarily halt the fish imports except marlins (Koppara) and sail fish (Thalapath). The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has requested the Finance Ministry to take necessary initiatives to halt the importation of fish and canned fish with the aim of maintaining stable prices. Currently, Sri Lanka is importing around 120,000 metric tons of fish and canned fish.
