Colombo, Oct. 16 (Daily Mirror) - The first commercial-scale harvest from a circular cage-based fish farming pilot project at the Yan Oya Reservoir yielded 1,202 kilograms of fish, generating an income of Rs. 696,000, the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) said.
The project, implemented by NAQDA, aims to help address Sri Lanka’s annual fish supply deficit, estimated at an additional 300,000 tonnes, while strengthening rural livelihoods and the local economy.
The initiative marks the first time a circular cage has been used in Sri Lanka for commercial-scale food fish production.
The rearing of 15,000 fish fingerlings began on May 18, 2026. On July 30, a total of 3,600 advanced fingerlings, each weighing more than 50 grams, were introduced into the circular cage.
The harvest, conducted yesterday (15), produced 1,202 kilograms of fish from 2,996 fish. The fish were sold at Rs. 600 per kilogram, generating revenue of Rs. 696,000.
Of the total harvest, 500 kilograms were purchased by the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, while another 660 kilograms were bought by a private fish vendor in the area.
NAQDA Chairman Kithsiri Dharmapriya and members of the Yan Oya fishing community attended the harvesting event.
