Sri Lanka loses 40% of fish production to post-harvest waste

Daily Mirror and Newswire report that nearly 40% of Sri Lanka’s annual fish production is lost through post-harvest wastage. Newswire attributes the figures to the President’s Media Division, which puts annual production at approximately 400,000 metric tonnes; Daily Mirror also cites the division.

Newswire reports that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired the discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on October 27, as officials considered the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources’ 2027 Budget proposals. Newswire says the president instructed officials to prepare plans to increase production, improve fishing communities’ incomes and make the industry commercially viable.

Newswire reports that participants considered ways to make fish more affordable for consumers and discussed operational challenges and infrastructure needs at the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and Peliyagoda Central Fish Market Complex. The discussion also covered modern vessels for deep-sea fishing and opportunities for private-sector investment.

Newswire says Dissanayake directed Finance Ministry officials to develop loan schemes suited to the fisheries sector. Newswire also reports discussion of sustainable coastal infrastructure, green harbour projects and expanding aquaculture.