By: Staff Writer
September 09, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s inland fishery industry, once seen as a low-cost solution to rural protein needs, is again in crisis.
The government’s latest initiative to install barrier nets in 250 reservoirs is being taken as a bold intervention. Yet, behind the rhetoric lies a troubled sector plagued by inefficiencies, poor planning, and unfulfilled promises, industry stake holders claimed. .
Washed Away: Billions in Protein Lost Each Year
Every year, an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 kilograms of fish are washed out from each reservoir during irrigation releases. The loss is more than numbers: it drains away mature, reproductive-age fish vital for replenishing stocks, undermining both food security and rural livelihoods, fishing community represntaives complained.
The new government says barrier nets will prevent this washout, securing fish for harvest. The National Aquaculture Development Authority insists the project could transform reservoirs into reliable food baskets for thousands of villages.
But critics argue that without strong oversight, the nets could simply become another costly infrastructure experiment with little to show.
Targets Missed, Potential Wasted
The inland and aquaculture sector produced 102,330 metric tons in 2024, well below the 173,000-ton target. This is despite Sri Lanka’s vast inland water resources over 1,400 perennial tanks covering nearly 183,000 hectares, plus thousands of minor reservoirs linked to the ancient tank cascade system.
Per capita fish consumption climbed to 36.85 grams per day in 2024, exceeding official goals. But this improvement masks the reality that inland fisheries supply only a sliver of national demand.
Imports still plug the gap, driving up costs for ordinary consumers in a country already battling inflation and high food prices.
Money Spent, But Results Lag
The Ministry of Fisheries spent Rs. 7.27 billion on capital projects and Rs. 1.98 billion in recurrent expenses in 2024, with impressive disbursement efficiency on paper. International aid from Japan, FAO, and USAID has further boosted funding and technology transfer.
But audits tell a different story: delayed licensing, undertrained staff, slow environmental clearances, and weak monitoring have stalled many initiatives. With so many projects half-completed, doubts remain whether barrier nets will fare any better.
Netting the Future or More Empty Promises?
The barrier net program could be a turning point if implemented with discipline, linking rural reservoirs to national supply chains and safeguarding ecosystems. Yet, history offers reason for caution: Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector is littered with ambitious plans that were never delivered.
Unless the government tackles governance failures head-on, the new initiative risks becoming yet another headline project leaving inland fisheries in the same cycle of untapped potential, and rural communities with empty promises instead of full nets
