• Cultivation area targeted to reach 5,000 acres
• Part of plan to double aquatic export revenue 

Sri Lanka is looking to significantly expand sea cucumber farming, targeting an increase in the area under cultivation to 5,000 acres, as a key part of its plan to double the foreign exchange revenue earned from the export of aquatic resources.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Secretary B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa revealed that Sri Lanka was aiming to double the foreign exchange revenue generated from the export of aquatic resources from its current level of $ 300 million to $ 600 million by 2030.

“Last year, we managed to increase the revenue from the export of aquatic products to around $ 320 million, from $ 285 million the previous year. Provided that there are no further market disruptions, such as the ongoing war in Iran disrupting transport channels, we believe we can pass the $ 325 million mark this year,” he stated.

He explained that, under this plan, the ministry was targeting an increase in the area of sea cucumber cultivation to 5,000 acres. However, a key bottleneck is the sourcing of juveniles from the wild.

In order to address this issue, he said that Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the development of hatcheries had been called and closed.

“Our target is that at least 20% of the juvenile sea cucumbers be sourced from hatcheries,” he said.

Jinadasa further revealed that the ministry was targeting the establishment of 2,000 acres of sea cucumber farms in Sri Lanka within this year, with around 1,400 acres already allocated for such farms.

He pointed out that sea cucumber represented a valuable foreign exchange earning commodity, with nearly 100% of production being exported to East Asian countries and regions such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and Thailand, noting that the sector generated foreign revenue due to little to no local consumption.

– By Shenal Fernando