𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗽 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗨𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 “𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮𝗻” 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀!

Sri Lanka has rolled out strict new regulations to curb the unchecked import and re-export of shrimp after mounting pressure from local aquaculture farmers. The country, which had previously allowed the import of foreign shrimp for value addition and re-export, is now hitting pause to protect its domestic industry.

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic, and Ocean Resources had opened the gates to foreign shrimp in recent years to meet international demand and boost seafood exports. But this strategy sparked backlash from local shrimp farmers, who warned that cheap foreign imports were flooding the market, threatening homegrown products and risking disease outbreaks that could lead to global trade restrictions.

Another major concern? Imported shrimp were being marketed as Sri Lankan, damaging the brand value of the country’s seafood industry.

To fix this, the government has now formed a special task force involving key stakeholders—from government agencies to shrimp exporters and aquaculture leaders. The result is a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that sets tight controls on shrimp imports, ensuring traceability, biosecurity, and transparent labeling.

This move is expected to:
Prevent market distortion
Protect local shrimp livelihoods
Safeguard Sri Lanka’s reputation in global seafood trade

With these new SOPs, Sri Lanka aims to strike a balance between boosting exports and protecting its blue economy.