Colombo: The National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) has proposed to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation to allocate a dedicated area for perishable products at the Airport to facilitate ornamental fish exports. Chairman of NAQDA Munidasa Premachandra said that they have proposed to the Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera to allocate an area for ornamental fish at the airport premises to load the goods before the flights.
'We are still waiting for a favourable reply from the Ministry. Most of the exporters complain there is nearly a six hour delay due to the unavailability of a proper area for perishable items.
NAQDA also expects to negotiate with Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Ministry to provide more facilities for the industry, he said.
Meanwhile NAQDA has opened an ornamental fish, aquatic plants and accessories exchange and information centre at the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry premises.
Through this centre ornamental fish producers could meet exporters and producers could meet breeders. Facilities are also available for fish producers to display their fish at the centre.
Premachandra said that they expect to commence training programes on the ornamental fish industry from January at the Rabbodagala ornamental fish breeding and training centre.
This centre will provide residential training for 50 students.
NAQDA is also making arrangements to import fish varieties from other countries and cross breed them with local varieties to generate new fish varieties to the industry. -- By Anjana Samasinghe, DN
