  
Nearly 40 percent of Sri Lanka’s total fish production is lost to post-harvest wastage, pointing to critical vulnerabilities in the island nation’s seafood supply and distribution network.
The extensive loss rate indicates that nearly two-fifths of landed catches never reach commercial markets or consumers in consumable condition. Significant deterioration typically occurs between harvest and sale due to gaps in cold storage, inadequate refrigeration onboard multi-day and artisanal vessels, and delays across transport routes connecting coastal landing sites with regional markets.
Key Developments
- Significant Catch Losses: Approximately 40 percent of Sri Lanka’s domestic fish output is lost post-harvest.
- Supply Chain Challenges: Deficiencies in temperature control, vessel preservation, and handling practices drive high rates of spoil.
- Impact on Sector Value: High wastage levels depress financial returns for fishing operators and limit domestic protein availability.
Mitigating such severe wastage rates depends on upgrading handling protocols, improving basic ice and cold-chain facilities at harbors, and streamlining distribution channels from coastal points of entry to end consumers.