March 20, 2014
 
Sri Lanka's Oceanpick launches first marine fish farm in Trincomalee
 

Sri Lankan company Oceanpick and Kames Fish Farming Ltd of Scotland entered into a joint venture project to launch the first marine fish farm in Trincomalee in Sri Lanka.

An initial investment of US$4 million was injected in the first phase of the Oceanpick project and the company's nursery now contains barramundi fry, also called Asian sea bass and locally known as modha. Oceanpick plans to widen its portfolio to several other species beyond barramundi to diversify into other species in the future. The first harvest is scheduled to take place end 2014.

The modern, high technology project introduced new technology to aquaculture, using Fusion Marine polyethylene two-ring circular pens. Oceanpick founder and director, Irfan Thassim, said Oceanpick had created history by launching sea cages, which is a victory for the country in general and the fishing industry in particular. The cages were stocked from this first batch, following several weeks in the nursery in preparation for transfer.

Sri Lanka's fisheries industry has received a new lease of life since the end of the war in 2009, with production now reaching 515,000 tonnes from 339,000 tonnes in 2009. Minister Senaratne is confident that it will be able to generate the same foreign exchange as the tourism industry if allocations for the industry are raised.

Oceanpick, headed by founder/director Irfan Thassim, commenced its journey in 2011, focusing on producing top notch marine fish using Sri Lanka's pristine seas. Utilising the vast ocean resource instead of pressuring wild fish into extinction, Oceanpick farms barramundi in open seas in a responsible manner.

Oceanpick General Manager Owen Stevens asserted that given the right stimulus, Sri Lanka has the potential to be a major player in global seafood production and a powerhouse in the marine aquaculture sector.