Cold chains, hot problems: Fixing Sri Lanka's fisheries — from catch to export

SRI Lanka's seas are generous. From the glittering yellowfin and skipjack that fuel the tuna industry to succulent shrimp and colourful ornamental fish, the island's marine harvests are a cornerstone of coastal livelihoods and a visible export earner. Yet much of that promise leaks away between the boat and the buyer: fish that spoil before they reach processing, chilled boxes that never arrive, small-scale fishers locked out of premium markets because of paperwork or a missing HACCP certificate. If the island wants fisheries to be a resilient, high-value engine for rural incomes, tackling the cold-storage, freezing and export chain is not optional-it's urgent.

- By Hiran Daluwatta

This article walks through the key problems that hobble Sri Lanka's fisheries value chain and critically details practical, evidence-based ways to fix them. The tone is hopeful but honest: many solutions are low-tech and high-impact, but they require coordination, some investment and a fresh focus on first-mile losses.

What's at stake: more than fish

Think of the fisheries cold-chain like a leaky pipe. The catch is the inlet; the consumer market is the tap. Every hole in the pipe bad handling, no ice, unreliable power, poor logistics wastes the resource and the income tied to it. For smallholders and coastal communities, these losses are the difference between profit and indebtedness. For exporters and the national economy, failing to meet sanitary standards or to maintain product quality means lost contracts, rejected consignments and reputational damage that is hard to repair.

Addressing cold-storage and freezing isn't just about installing a freezer. It's about reducing post-harvest loss, unlocking premium markets, making energy use sustainable and creating reliable logistics that respect both the sea and the supermarket shelf.

The main problems - quick tour

1. High post-harvest losses at landing sites and on boats. Fish begin to deteriorate minutes after capture. If fishermen lack ice, insulated containers, or basic handling training, the product's value drops fast. For multi-day fleets that return late or land remote catches, the problem is amplified.

2. Uneven cold-chain infrastructure. Cold stores and IQF (Individual Quick Freeze) facilities are concentrated in urban and port areas. Many landing sites have no pre-coolers, no blast freezers and no easy access to refrigerated transport.