Jelly fish exports becoming lucrative foreign exchange earner -Fisheries Minister

Mohammed NAALIR

Eventhough some environmental activists claim jelly fish as endemic to Sri Lanka it is a common type of fish found in many countries, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera yesterday.

Minister Perera denied an allegation by environmentalists that if the catching of jelly fish continued stocks would dwindle. He said jelly fish are found in plenty along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka.

Addressing the media at his Ministry, Ministry Perera said the export of jelly fish is becoming a lucrative foreign exchange earner. Sri Lanka could earn 15 million US $ within a short period with the commencement of this export business.

He said the Government has distributed only no objection certificates to jelly fish exporters. There are several varieties of Jelly fish but only two varieties are consumed by the people. There are 14 varieties of jelly fish in Sri Lanka.

Minister Perera said that due to security reasons the catching of jelly fish has been banned by the Government.

He said his Ministry held talks with environmentalists and customs officials in relation to jelly fish exports. Eventhough there are 14 varieties of jelly fish only the edible varieties are exported.

We are badly in need of foreign exchange and jelly fish exports could be an alternative source of income to Sri Lanka, he said.

Minister Perera also said the catching of jelly fish has become a source of livelihood for those in the coastal areas.

Nearly 20,000 fishermen make a living by catching jelly fish.

This can be considered as a natural resource of our country and we must make the maximum benefit out of it, Minister Perera added.