A Review of Export Trade of Indigenous Freshwater Fish Species in Sri Lanka and Their Conservation Issues
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
The ornamental fish trading in Sri Lanka has come a long way over the last 85 years of its
existence to develop in to a valuable foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka. Ornamental fish are
exported to 71 countries around the world. Exporters have shown an increasing trend over the
last decade particularly since price has become more competitive. Many species of fresh water
fish in Sri Lanka are collected from wild habitat for ornamental fish export trade which causes a
series conservation issue on the particular endemic freshwater fishes. The effect of selective
over collection are exacerbated by the habitat degradation that is taking place independently of
aquarium trade activities but which would inevitably affect the sustainability of endemic fish
aquarium trade (Ekaratne, 2000). Therefore some of the freshwater endemic species require
urgent measurement for their protection and sustainable management. Present study was
intended to analyze and evaluate the trade of freshwater fish in Sri Lanka with a particular focus
on endemic species. Determining exported species and their quantities, evaluate the actual
foreign exchange earnings from the endemic fish trade , identify annual fluctuation of exported
quantities with biological data of endemic fish species and identify the conservation issues
related to endemic fish were the main objectives of present study.
Methodology
Data on the freshwater fish species subjected to ornamental export trade and their quantities
were extracted from the Customs Goods Declaration Forms (CusDec) submitted by the
ornamental fish exporters to the Air Cargo (Exports) Terminal in Katunayake under the
Department of Sri Lanka Customs. A total of 3037 Customs Goods Declaration Forms
submitted during the period of one year from 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2013 were
analyzed and some part of the data were extracted from Data Base Management System of Sri
Lanka Customs. A questionnaire was also used to gather additional information from
ornamental fish exporters and having face to face interviews with local villagers, laborers of
export oriented fish farms , ecologists and specialists on relevant field. A literature survey was
also conducted to gather relevant background information.
Results and Discussion
During the one year period from 1 Sep 2012 to 31 Aug in 2013, a total of 29 species of fish in
15 families were collected from freshwater habitats for the export from Sri Lanka. Among the
total, 18 species were indigenous, 10 species Endemic, 3 salt dispersants and one was exotic.
When considering the total quantities of exported freshwater fish during the one year period the
most common species exported was the endemic fish Garra ceylonensis (28551 individuals),
followed by Indigenous salt water dispersants Monodactylus argenteus (15617 individuals) and
the endemic fish Dawkinsia singhala (6322 individuals). Anguilla bicolor was the species
exported in least quantities (14 individuals). During the one year study period, 63419
individuals had been exported from Sri Lanka as wild collected freshwater fishes.
Description
Keywords
Aquaculture and Fisheries, Animal Sciences, Biodiversity – Sri Lanka, Fish, fish Industry