Impacts and Importance of Introduction of Culture-based Fisheries in Three Medium Sized Perennial Reservoirs in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is endowed with a large number (>12,000) of irrigation reservoirs, which are primarily used for irrigation. Culture-based fisheries in perennial reservoirs are a recent development in Sri Lanka. The government of Sri Lanka has recognised culture-based fisheries as an effective way to increase fish supplies in rural areas at affordable prices, providing livelihood opportunities, strengthening rural economy and thereby contributing towards poverty alleviation. In this paper, the impact of the introduction of culture-based fisheries into three reservoirs, namely Amparawewa, Hambegamuwa and Aluthdiulwewa, is assessed. Introduction of culture-based fisheries resulted in significant increases in fish production in all three reservoirs. Stocking of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus 1758), catla Catla catla (Hamilton 1822), rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822), mrigal Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton 1822) and freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man 1879) in these reservoirs resulted in positive monetary gains. Culture-based fisheries provided livelihoods for 55, 77 and 37 villagers in Amparawewa, Hambegamuwa and Aluthdiulwewa, respectively. Gross income generated from culture-based fisheries in these three reservoirs was 88.9 %, 68.1 % and 50.6 % of that of downstream paddy cultivation. Profits earned through culture-based fisheries in the three reservoirs were 133.2 %, 129.4 % and 86.3 % respectively of that of downstream paddy cultivation. Introduction of CBF in these three reservoirs resulted in increased availability of fish in rural areas, enhanced food security, more livelihood opportunities and strengthening of the rural economy.