By Pabodha Hettige
Steps have been taken to begin pearl oyster cultivation in the Trincomalee bay in collaboration with the National Aquatic Research and Development Agency (NARA), Professor of Marine Biology of the Vayamba University, W.N.T.B Wanninayaka said. "The project will be implemented in the near future fully funded by NARA," he said.
Mother pearl oysters would be extracted from the Natural oyster bed extending from Mannar to Silawatura and they would be planted in Trincomalee bay and the harvesting will be done in nearly two years.
"Trincomalee bay has been chosen for the oyster cultivation due to the minimum wave action present there due to it being a bottle neck bay. All the other bays found in Sri Lanka are open bays, which are not suitable for the cultivation," Wanninayaka said.
If Sri Lanka is to expand the cultivations, artificial bays will have to be constructed to suit the geographical requirements.
We are also planning to launch two edible oyster cultivation projects in Mannar in order to enhance the production of aquaculture farming in Sri Lanka, he said. One project will be carried out with the assistance of NARA and the other with the private sector.
Wanninayaka also said that he hopes to initiate a project to cultivate freshwater clams. "Already 15 districts and certain areas of Mahaveli reservoirs have been identified as suitable for cultivations.
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