A survey to findout the effectiveness of Aquaculture Service * Centre in the field of shrimp farming in North Western province

Abstract

Shrimp and prawn farming have developed rapidly in many tropical and sub tropical countries, but there has been a set back resulting from diseases and the growing awareness of the environmental and social impacts of shrimp farming. Shrimp cultivation in Sri Lanka is spread in northwestern Coastal region from Negombo to Puttalam. Aquaculture Service Center (ASC) is an institute, which produces laboratory Service and the other necessary Services in the field of aquaculture, especially in the field of shrimp farming in northwestern province. To findout the effectiveness of ASC in the shrimp farming sector in the northwestern province this survey was conducted. Questionnaires for farmers, participatory rapid appraisal for both officers of ASC and other responsible officers in shrimp farming sector, were conducted for data collection. By analyzing the collected data some suggestions were obtained for the development of the ASC and shrimp-farming sector. Due to the small shrimp sample size and inadequate, time it was very difficult to analyze and compare relationships between various factors. The time period and money allocations were the limiting factors for these failures. This type of surveys is very important in identification of the effectiveness of such an institute and also in determination of environmental effects from these types of industries. Type of pollution from the shrimp culture must be studied for prevention and limitation the environmental damage. Therefore further studies are recommended for shrimp farming practice in Sri Lanka.