The Export Potential of the Ornamental Fish industry

Just as with apparel, tea, and coconut products exports, and so on, Sri Lanka is recognised as a supplier of good quality ornamental fish to the international markets, that is, more than 125 countries. Even if the current volume and value of ornamental fish exports from Sri Lanka are quite low as a percentage of the total export basket, the industry holds vast potential, largely untapped to date, because the country is home to a total of 111 ornamental fish species living in fresh, brackish, and marine waters. Out of the freshwater aquarium fish species exported from Sri Lanka, about 60 – 70% consists of the fancy guppies that enjoy great demand in the international markets. The conducive climate and the availability of coral reefs, sand bars, lagoons around the country as well as inland water bodies such as streams, rivers, and reservoirs provide the ideal ground for breeding marine, brackish water and freshwater species in Sri Lanka.

History

The roots of the ornamental fish industry stretch back to nearly a century when a group of hobbyists and collectors started exploring and discovering exotic fish varieties in the rivers, lagoons, and marine habitats around the country. In the early 1930s, unbeknownst to the treasure the country already possessed, Sri Lanka had imported ornamental fish for pet lovers and as a major source of relief for mental stress and illnesses of patients. Later in the 1950s, when it dawned on them that the ornamental fish found in Sri Lanka held enormous potential, Sri Lankan exporters ventured into the export market with striking species of guppies, swordtails, platys, barbs, tetras, angels, gouramis, and catfish.

Major Species of Ornamental Fish Exported from Sri Lanka

Ornamental fish exports consist of 70% of the freshwater ornamental fish and 30% of the marine ornamental fish. The key species of freshwater ornamental fish exported from Sri Lanka can be enlisted as follows:

• Guppies
• Plates
• Goldfish (e.g. Fantails, Orandas, Redcaps)
• Barbs (e.g. Golden barbs, Rosy barbs)
• Danios (e.g. Zebra danio)
• Tetras (e.g. Serpae, Neon)
• Gouramis
• Catfish
• Cichlids (e.g. Angels, Oscars, Discus)

Challenges faced by Ornamental Fish Farmers in Sri Lanka

A study conducted in 2007 by PPM Heenatigala of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency identifies the constraints faced by the ornamental fish farmers in Sri Lanka.

• The stagnation of the sales price of fish even in the face of increased material costs of production - feed, cement, sand, transport, and labour - in recent years.
• The difficulty to find export markets for newcomers to enter the export market.
• Lack of quality brooders and information on the most suitable fish varieties for the different climatic and water conditions in different areas in the country.
• Feed availability and cost.
• Lack of adequate knowledge and technical support concerning disease control and water quality management.
• Difficulty to survive in the off-season.
• Difficulty in obtaining credit for expansion and the lack of sufficient involvement of responsible authorities in overcoming all these identified constraints.

The state agencies in charge of the promotion and development of the ornamental fisheries industry in Sri Lanka have to formulate viable measures to address these constraints that hold the industry back. Despite the passage of some 14 years since it must be noted that most of these challenges persist to date.

Measures and Strategies for the Holistic Development of the Ornamental Fish Industry

The following measures and strategies have been recognised as instrumental to the holistic growth of the ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka.

• Diversification of species and variety composition of the export fish basket by improving quality
• Minimising pressure on natural stocks in the wild through the promotion of domestication and captive breeding, particularly of marine and indigenous ornamental fish.
• Discouraging the use of destructive fishing methods which includes tissue culture of ornamental aquatic plants
• Reduction of mortalities throughout the supply chain by introducing best management practices and overall improving fish health management.

International Ornamental Fish Trade

The Ornamental fish trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry today in more than 125 countries. More than 2500 species of fish are involved, of which over 60% are of freshwater origin. Although it relies largely on captive-bred freshwater fish, the trade also includes significant numbers of fish and invertebrates collected from the wild. It has been estimated that about 30 freshwater fish species dominate the global market, such as livebearers, neon tetra, angelfish, goldfish, zebra danio and discus. The guppy and neon tetra species alone represent more than 25% of the market by volume and more than 14% by value.

Marine fish species make up more than 15% of the market by value, with about 98% collected from the wild while the remainder is captive-bred. Although it’s more costly and not as easy to maintain as freshwater aquaria, keeping marine fish in aquaria is becoming more popular. Particularly in the USA and Europe, as prices are becoming more affordable, the marine aquarium sector is expanding rapidly. Technical and economic developments have also helped contribute to the popularity of marine aquaria, especially marine reef ecosystem aquaria complete with fish, corals, shellfish, molluscs, and plants.

The Global Market for Ornamental Fish

The Global Ornamental Fish Market was valued at US$6,800 Million in 2019 and is forecast to reach US$11,336.47 Million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of over 10% through 2025.

The anticipated growth in the market is attributable to changing lifestyles and the growing preference of millennials in keeping aquariums as home decor items. With increasing disposable income, consumers are willing to spend on ornamental fish to be kept in their home aquarium. Further, various scientific studies reveal that the use of ornamental fish in the household aquaria provides psychological advantages to the house members; hence, the market is witnessing an increasing demand for ornamental fishes. The aquaria are also believed to help in reducing stress and provide a calm effect on the members of the house. With the increasing popularity of household aquaria kept by hobbyists, less than 1% of the global market for ornamental fishes belongs to the public aquaria sector.

All in all, the export potential of the ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka remains largely untapped. With the forecast compound annual growth rate of 10% in the global ornamental fish market, Sri Lanka too can capture a significant slice of the market, one that is much larger than what the country currently enjoys.