Sri Lankan Fishing Industry 🐬🦈 by @thanushi99

Fisheries industry can be considered as an important sector of the economy of Sri Lanka. Many factors favorable for fisheries industry are found in Sri Lanka, namely,
• Sri Lanka being an island surrounded by the ocean.
• A long coasting around the island.
• A wide continental shelf.
• Location of bays, lagoons and harbour.
• The presence of rivers, canals, stream, tanks and reservoirs.
• Plenty of plankton during the monsoon because of the action of ocean currents.

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Importance of Fishing industry
• To provide required amount of protein for people.
• Existence of a wide local and foreign market for fish products.
• Provision of employment opportunities.
• Ability to earn foreign currency by selling fisheries products.
• Availability of resources to improve the fisheries industry.
Hence the fishing industry can be considered as an important part of the economy of Sri Lanka.
The fishing industry can be categorized into three parts according to the regions where it is distributed.

1. Marine water fisheries
2. Fresh water fisheries
3. Brackish water fisheries.

Marine fishing industry ( Ocean fishing )
Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone is called "Marine Fishing". It has two main sectors.
1.Fishing in coastal sea or in the continental shelf.
2.Deep sea fishing

1. Fishing in the coastal sea
The largest quantity of fish is obtained from the coastal sea. Fishing industry is distributed widely from Mannar to Hambantota and Batticoloa to Jaffna in the shallow sea. The reason for the abundance of fish in the shallow sea are given below.
~ Availability of plankton food for fish in abundance.
~ Organic fertilizer particles brought by the rivers, streams and canals have deposited in the coastal areas.
~ Fish food at the bottom of the sea is brought to the surface water by the action of ocean currents.
As a result of the above factors a plenty of small fish such as Salaya, Sprat, Hurulla, Etawalla, Sudaya, Mullet and Alagoduwa are breeding in this coastal area.

2. Deep sea fishing industry
Deep sea fishing is done under state patronage as well as the under private enterprises. Thalapath, Thora(seer), Mora(shark), Koppara, Kelawalla, Balaya(tuna) are large fishess such as etc. To get the big harvest used a various kinds of fishing gear(tackle).
• Multi-day trawler
• Falling gear
• Gill net
• Triple net
• Merchanized boat

Fresh water fishing industry

Fresh water fishing comprises fishing in water bodies such as rivers, streams, canals, tanks and ponds in Sri Lanka. Fish such as Lula, Kanaya, Magura, Koraliya, Godaya, Hunga, Maspetiya, Kavaiya, Thadalaya are important varieties of fresh water fish. Fish such as Grass Carp, Big Head Carp, Silver Carp, Catla, Rohu, Thilapia and Gurami are being bred at present in tanks are ponds. Breeding of ornamental fish and aquaculture for fish food are done under fresh water fishing industry.

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Brackish water fishing industry
Brackish water fishing is carried out in many places along the coast which is about 1760km in length. The main areas where brackish water fishing is carried out are Jaffna, Puttalam, Munadala, Chilaw, Negombo, Polwatta river, Malala lagoon and Arugam Bay. Estuaries and lagoons are the most suitable places for brackish water fishing as there is both sea water and fresh water in those areas. Existence of mangroves and organic matter brought by rivers, streams, and canals have contributed for the abundant breeding of fish that can withstand changes in salinity. In places like Negombo and Puttalam, prawns and crabs are bred on a commercial scale. Multi National Companies provide aid to breed prawns at present.
Thank you.