The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved a proposal by the Minister of Fisheries to set up villages in the coastal areas of the north and the east to farm and export sea cucumbers.
Sea cucumber farming and export villages will be set up on 100 acres in a 5000- acre area which has been earmarked for the venture in Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Batticaloa.
The export of sea cucumbers farmed naturally from the sea has generated significant foreign exchange for the country.
The National Aquatic Resources, Research and Development Agency has already set up a commercial venture to expand sea cucumber farming and to establish villages for the commercial export of sea cucumbers which will uplift the livelihoods of local fishing communities.
This type of venture will prevent the over exploitation of natural sea cucumber species due to trade and discourage other associated crimes linked to illegal sea cucumber fisheries because local communities will have more legal income generating opportunities.
Economically the project is a good one and the potential for foreign exchange earnings is high because of the high demand and attractive market for sea cucumbers in East Asia.
The drawbacks of such farms are that they will affect other natural species that occur in these selected areas while selective monoculture will increase the risk of disease which could easily spill over to the natural environment.
Wild sea cucumber that is caught and smuggled and those that are smuggled from India will be laundered to the legal supply chain unless it is strictly monitored.
