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Ornamental Fish Industry in Sri Lanka: Present Status and Future Trends

Article in Aquarium Science and Conservation · December 2001 DOI: 10.1023/A:1013154407298

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R.G.S. WIJESEKARA1 and A. YAKUPITIYAGE2 1National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Crow Island, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka; 2Agricultural and Aquatic System Management Program, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand Acccepted 15 May 2000 Key words: ornamental fish, exports, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

The aquarium fish industry in Sri Lanka has become a valuable foreign exchange earner during the past few years, earning Rs. 530 million in 1998. Sri Lankan ornamental fish exports for the international market include locally wild caught marine, brackish-water and freshwater species as well as captive bred freshwater fish. Presently, there are about 18 registered aquarium fish exporters and together they currently contribute approximately 1% of the world’s demand for ornamental fish. Of the freshwater fish species exported from Sri Lanka, the guppy ranks the highest (67% by number), followed by swordtails, angels, platies and various species of tetras. This study aims to assess the present status and future trends in the ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka; to overview the present fish production system which caters for the international market; and to identify present constraints within the industry.

INTRODUCTION

The ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka has a long history, which began with small-scale outlets in some houses within the cities. In the early 1930’s there were several small-scale importers, breeders and hobbyists. The aquarium fish industry in Sri Lanka initiated around the commercial capital, Colombo, as a result of the establishment of a zoological garden in Dehiwala and the first public aquarium was established in 1952 in Colombo (Jonklaas, 1989). The industry was commercialized by a few entrepreneurs about 50 years ago and has now developed into a thriving industry with an export market, affording profit and employment to many people (Kuruppu, 1998). As a result of overcrowding, high labor costs and lack of land for fish outgrowing facilities, the large-scale growers started to move out to rural areas of the dry zone within the country. Presently, the ornamental fish outgrowing systems are distributed in the north- central, north-western and central provinces of Sri Lanka (Weerakoon, 1997). Sri Lanka presently earns about US$ 8 million per year from the exportation of ornamental fish and plants to over 52 countries (EDB, 1999). Approximately 70 exporters engage in exporting fish and aquatic plants but of these only about six can be considered as large-scale exporters. The export of aquarium fish has grown sig- nificantly from Rs. 96 million in 1990 to Rs. 530 million in 1998, however Sri Lanka contributes only one percent of the international market demand (EDB,1998). The major fish producers are the contract growers. Exporters assist the contract growers by supplying fish fry, feed, chemicals and basic technology for culturing

Aquarium Sciences and Conservation 3: 241–252, 2001. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. 242 R.G.S. WIJESEKARA AND A.YAKUPITIYAGE aquarium species, and they practice a ‘buy back’ system when the fish are ready for the export market. Ornamental fish breeding, fry raising and growing-on tech- nologies are dealt with by the commercial growers and the aquarium fish market is presently controlled by just a few exporters. In this industry the independent small- scale growers are dependent in terms of technology and market on the commercial growers and exporters. The expansion of this industry among the low income work- force is an important contributory factor to the economy of Sri Lanka. This is due to its ability to generate considerable income per unit area, with high export earnings, as well as its potential for raising the living standards among rural communities and providing income opportunities for house-holders. The success of such an expansion depends on the availability of appropriate resources, technology, and local and international market demand, plus an institutional framework within the country. Given the present outlook it is important to analyze these various elements in order to expand the industry to rural level. This study aims to assess the present status and future trends in the ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka; to provide an overview of the present fish production system which caters for the international market; and to identify present constraints within the industry.

METHODS

The study was carried out between December 1997 and May 1998. Most of the ornamental fish breeding, grow-out and export activities are established around Colombo. For this reason the Colombo district was selected as the most suit- able area for data collection. However, the industry is now expanding to other cities and rural areas of the country and the technology, marketing procedure, economics and constraints faced by the rural-based industry may be different to that of the developed areas. Therefore the study was extended to some rural areas of Colombo district as well as rural parts of the Gampaha, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura districts. The overall method of data collection for this study consisted of information gathering from various ornamental fish programs (on-site fish farm surveys). Various documents, such as databases, reports, manuscripts and articles, were used to collect information. Discussions were also conducted with government and non-government personnel relevant to the ornamental fish industry using a standard questionnaire format. Personal observations were also made as part of the information gathering. Further data was collected from various government and non-government organizations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Legal status of ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka The laws and regulations covering aquatic resources conservation and the management and sustainable utilization of aquatic resources rely on the effective ORNAMENTAL FISH INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA 243 implementation of national rules and regulations. Several rules and regulations have been developed to conserve the aquatic fauna and flora, especially those species that are endemic to Sri Lanka. National legislation also deals with the prevention of diseases and unwanted species from coming into the country, and with the pro- tection of aquatic resources. The various Sri Lankan acts and relevant institutes responsible for their implementation are given in Table 1. Of these, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act has specific objectives for the protection, regulation, and sustainable utilization of aquatic resources. Regulations have been finalized to prohibit the export, or restrict the export, of certain live fish species (Tables 2 and 3), as well as prohibiting the import of certain other species (Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No 2 1996). Sri Lankan freshwater fishes that are red-listed by the IUCN (1997) are listed in Table 4. Some fish species are completely prohibited from being exported in live form, whereas those species that are categorized as ‘restricted’ may be exported under the permits issued by the Department of Fisheries. In order to export restricted species the exporters must obtain a certificate from the Department of Fisheries in Sri Lanka; the exporters are allowed to export a limited number of such fish under the permit. With regard to marine fishes, as a result of over-exploitation of wild stocks and the lack of technologies available for commercially spawning the vast majority of species, the number of marine fish that are currently wild caught may be reduced in the future. This may lead to further restrictions being imposed on the trade in marine fish species. It is therefore necessary to develop techniques to breed marine fish in captivity in order to satisfy international market demands. In addition to those species listed in Table 4, a further 18 exotic freshwater fish species, belonging to families Ictaluridae and Characidae are prohibited for

Table 1. Acts related to aquatic resources management in Sri Lanka

Name of Act Responsible institution 1. Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance Department of Wild Life (Act. No 1 of 1970) 2. Fauna and Flora Amendment Act Department of Wild Life (Act. No 49 of 1993) 3. Coast Conservation Act Coastal Conservation Department (Act. No 57 of 1981) 4. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act Ministry of Fisheries (Act. No 2 of 1998) 5. National Aquatic Resources Research and National Aquatic Resources Research Development Act (Act. No 54 of 1981 and and Development Agency amendment No 32 of 1996) 6.Water Resources Board Act Water Resource Board (No 29 of 1963) 7.National Environment Act Central Environmental Authority (No 47 of 1981) 8. Custom Ordinance Sri Lanka Customs (No 17 of 1965) 244 R.G.S. WIJESEKARA AND A.YAKUPITIYAGE Halmal DandiyaMagura Golden Rasbora ThalkossaBata Kola Theliya Lesser Spiny Eel Walking Catfish Combtail PothayaBulath HapayaLay Tittaya Black Ruby Barb Cuming’s Barb Cherry Barb Danio pathirana Rasbora vaterifloris Clarias brachysoma Belontia signata Macrognathus aral Puntius cumingii Puntius nigrofasciatus Puntius titteya Snakehead Barb Wilpita Rasbora Red Neck Goby Red Tail Goby Lipstick Goby Gadeya Mountain Labeo Bandula Pethiya Malpulutta Ornate Paradise Fish Kola KanayaJonklaas Ehirava Smooth Breasted Jonklaa’s Loach Hiri KanayaAshoka PethiyaDunbara PethiyaDankudu Ashoka Pethiya Orange Barb Fin Labeo Martenstyn’s Barb Blotched Filamented . Sri Lankan freshwater fish species that are prohibited or restricted from export under law deraniyagalai jonklaasi Scientific nameLabeo fisheri Sinhala name English name Scientific name Sinhala name English name P. bandula Rasbora wilpita Malpulutta kretseri Schismatogobius Scyopterus halei S. jonklaasi Channa orientalis Lepidocephalichthys Table 2 Prohibited freshwater fish species Restricted freshwater fish species L. porcellus Puntius asoka P. martenstyni P. srilankensis ORNAMENTAL FISH INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA 245

Table 3. Sri Lankan marine fish species that are prohibited or restricted from export under Sri Lankan law

Prohibited marine fish species Restricted marine fish species Chaetodon semeion Chaetodon octofasciatus Pygoplites diacanthus C. xanthocephalus Pterois radiata C. madagascariensis Hymnocera elegans C. meyeri Centropyge bispinosus C. ornatissimus Coris aygula C. ephippium Labroides bicolor C. rafflesi Platax pinnatus C. falcula C. unimaculatus C. bennetti C. triangulum Heniochus monoceros Centropyge flavipectoralis Balistoides conspicillum Pseudobalistes fuscus Heniochus pleurotaenia importation into Sri Lanka in live form in order to protect the local aquatic fauna and flora. It is feared that these exotic fish species could accidentally be released into Sri Lankan waters causing various problems to the aquatic fauna and flora. Detailed information about these prohibited species is supplied to the customs authorities so that they may take necessary precautionary measures. The prohibited species are listed below: Family: Ictaluridae (Bullhead catfishes) Ictalurus punctatus, I. furcatus, Ameiurus catus, A. nebulosus, Pylodictis olivaris. Family: Characidae This covers 13 piranha species: Serrasalmus spp. and Catoprion mento.

Quarantine laws and quarantine process The Department of Animal Quarantine is responsible for the implementation of fish quarantine procedures in Sri Lanka. According to the Animal Quarantine Act of 1992, any live fish which are imported into the country must be accompanied by a quarantine certificate from the exporting country. Only those fish that are accom- panied by a government certificate will be released from the customs authorities. Fish that are imported without a government certificate have to undergo a quar- antine process, but the fish will be released under the condition that they cannot be sold until the quarantine period is completed. The actual period of quarantine is dependent on the health condition of the fish. With regard to live fish exports, the quarantine procedures are undertaken by quarantine officers who inspect the 246 R.G.S. WIJESEKARA AND A.YAKUPITIYAGE

Table 4. Sri Lankan freshwater fish species that have been red listed by the world conservation union (IUCN, 1997)

Status Fish species Critically Endangered Danio pathirana Puntius bandula Endangered Labeo fisheri Puntius ashoka P. martenstyni Rasbora wilpita Lepidocephalichthys jonklaasi Lower risk Puntius cumingii P. nigrofasciatus P. pleurotaenia P. titteya R. vaterifloris Acanthocobitis urophthalums Belontia signata Malpulutta kretseri Vulnerable Heteropneustes microps Data Deficient Danio aequipinnatus Garra phillipsi Macrognathus aral Schismatogobius deraniyagalai Sicyopterus halei Sicyopus jonklaasi

fish at the exporter’s premises before they are bagged up for export. However, these inspections are not undertaken for each and every shipment. The quaran- tine officers deal with all the quarantine paperwork, and they visit the exporter’s farms routinely in order to undertake fish samplings and collect samples for health checking. The actual requirements for specific health tests vary according to the overseas buyer. Tests for certain types of bacteria and viruses (Table 5) have to be undertaken before the fish are cleared for the export market. Not all of these tests are performed on each occasion, however the fish are observed for any clinical signs of these diseases.

Local ornamental fish market There is a local interest in keeping ornamental fish in private homes as well as in public buildings such as hospitals, military camps, banks, and various government and private sector offices. As a result of this demand there is a very good local market for ornamental fish within the country. The development of a fish export market has meant that more and more newcomers are entering the industry. This expansion of the export market may have an impact on the development of the local consumer market in aquarium fish. ORNAMENTAL FISH INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA 247

Table 5. Pathogen tests required for fish export

Bacteria Viruses Yersinia ruckeri Infectious pancreatic necrosis Aeromonas salmonicida Infectious haematopoietic necrosis Pasteurella piscicida Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia Haemophilus piscium Spring viraemia of carp Lactobacillis pisciocola Rosy barb agent Streptococcus spp. Herpes viruses Mycobacterium spp. Vibrio spp. Renibacterium salmoninarum Aeromonas hydrophila Vibrio cholera Salmonella

The local market has spread in the major cities, as well as at village level. Some households are selling fish that they breed in their houses in order to make an income. The exact size of the local consumer market has not yet been precisely eval- uated however according to the Live Tropical Fish Exporters Association (1996) in Sri Lanka, it is estimated at about US$ 0.22 million per annum. The aquarium shops in Sri Lanka largely serve the local consumer market and are sited mostly in the cities where the population is high. There are also aquarium owners who do not engage in fish breeding but purchase fish wholesale from the growers, breeders and exporters and then sell them on at profit to the aquarium fishkeepers or hobbyists. Those fish that do not meet export quality mostly end up in the local consumer market. In the local consumer market both imported and local fish species are mar- keted. Consumers in cities seek imported high valued fish as well as the cheaper locally bred species. Ornamental fish are imported from different countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan and the Maldives. Most of these fish are destined for the local consumer market with only a few ending up as broodstock for the fish breeders. Detailed information about fish imports is not available. In the local market, the highest demand is for goldfish (25% number of fish), followed by swordtails, guppies, carps (Koi and other types of carp) and platies (Figure 1). Fighters (Betta splendens), ‘sharks’ (e.g. Labeo spp.), and catfish are in less demand, mainly due to their high prices. In contrast, there is no local demand for marine ornamental fish due to their high prices. In fact, only a very few Sri Lankans are used to keeping marine ornamental fish in home aquariums. In addition to the trade in live fish, various kinds of aquarium accessories are also marketed. These include aquarium tanks, stands, lighting units, hand nets, aquarium background pictures, various life-support systems (e.g. aerators, filters and related items), chemical remedies, dry and live fish foods, and aquatic plants. 248 R.G.S. WIJESEKARA AND A.YAKUPITIYAGE

Figure 1. Local market demand for ornamental fish. Percentage values are numbers of fish per species.

Export market Sri Lanka presently earns about US$8 million per year by exporting ornamen- tal fish to around 52 countries (EDB, 1998). There are about 70 exporters but only six are leading the market. Sri Lanka has developed a good reputation in the international market for exporting high quality wild caught and tank bred fish as well as wild caught marine fish species. Presently, the large-scale exporters depend mainly on the small and medium scale breeders and growers to provide fish to the foreign market, as they are not capable of producing large numbers of fish from their own resources. Figure 2 shows the different fish species involved in the export market. According to the export figures in 1998, Japan is the major buyer of Sri Lankan freshwater fish, and accounts for about 25% of the total fish export value. The next largest buyers are: USA (21%), Germany (11%), France (8.5%), UK (8%), the Netherlands (4%), Italy (3.8%), Spain (2%) and United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) (2%). Miscellaneous countries import the remain- ing 13% of the total value. As many exporters in Sri Lanka do not wish to disclose information regarding the numbers of fish that they export, only the most reliable data were used for calculating the percentage number of fish exported per species.

Trends in the Sri Lankan ornamental fish export industry Recent trade statistics from the Sri Lankan Export Development Board indicate that the export demand for ornamental fish is rising steadily (EDB, 1998). Exports ORNAMENTAL FISH INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA 249

Figure 2. Ornamental fish species for the export market. Percentage values based on numbers of fish per species.

y x –

.

Figure 3. Ornamental fish exports – market trends. of aquarium fish have grown significantly from Rs. 96 million in 1990 to Rs. 530 million in 1998 (Figure 3). For many years Singapore has dominated the export trade by captive breeding a wide variety of species in addition to importing wild caught fish from neighboring countries for re-export. There are indications that the industry in Singapore is now under pressure from several sources and that suppliers are not always able to supply fish of the size and quality required by the overseas market (Christie, 1993). Seventy percent of Sri Lanka’s total foreign exchange from aquarium fish is from marine fish as they have a higher value than freshwater species. However, due to increasing conservation pressures on harvesting wild marine fish, the current increasing year on year trend in foreign exchange earning from aquarium fish may alter in time. The present industry is summarized in terms 250 R.G.S. WIJESEKARA AND A.YAKUPITIYAGE

Figure 4. Routes of supplies of ornamental fish for the export market.

Figure 5. Major network of ornamental fish production. of the various supplies of ornamental fish for export (Figure 4) and the major fish production network (Figure 5).

CONCLUSIONS

The aquarium fish industry in Sri Lanka is likely to expand as a result of government support, more new-comers to the industry, and the increasing international demands ORNAMENTAL FISH INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA 251

Figure 6. SWOT analysis for the ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka. for aquarium fish. Presently, there are just a few exporters (six large scale) of ornamental fish and they determine the present prices. However, if more exporters enter the market then the increased competition for fish collection and supply to the export market might result in an increase in fish prices, bringing more profit to the fish farmers. However, the exploitation of wild fish stocks for the aquarium trade may become restricted due to a trend towards conserving the country’s natural resources. For this reason, new technologies will need to be developed in order to commercially breed rare species, as well as marines. It is clear that proper fish health management and quarantine regimes will have to be adopted, as current procedures do not match those of other fish producing countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. A summary SWOT analysis is shown in Figure 6. These various changes are necessary in order to achieve a sustainable ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka.

REFERENCES

Christie, D. (1993) Action international working paper on the development of ornamental fish exports from Sri Lanka, pp. 1–6. EDB (1998) Export Development Board of Sri Lanka, 1998. Statistical database. EDB (1999) Export Development Board of Sri Lanka, 1999. Statistical database. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No 2 (1996) Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka, pp. 1–9. IUCN (1997) A list of Threatened Animals of Sri Lanka and the Western Indian Ocean: extracted from the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals, The World Conservation Union, Sri Lanka Country Office, 7, Vagira Lane, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka, pp. 3–25. Jonklass, R.S.L (1989) Past present and future status of live tropical fish and plant business in Sri Lanka. Aquarama Proceedings, Vol. 1, pp. 15–31. 252 R.G.S. WIJESEKARA AND A.YAKUPITIYAGE

Kuruppu, M.M (1998) Developing the ornamental fish industry. Min Visithuru Trade Fair 9–11 January, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka, pp. 23–72. Live Tropical Fish Exporters Association (1996) Colombo, Sri Lanka (Personal communications). Weerakoon, D.E.M (1997) Model feasibility report on aquarium fish. Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Colombo, Sri Lanka, pp. 3–16.

Address for correspondence: R.G.S. Wijesekara, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Crow Island, Colombo 15, Sri Lanka Phone: 94 1 522005, 522000, 522006; Fax: 94 1 522932; E-mail: [email protected], sudeepa43@ hotmail.com

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