From Discarded Fish Waste to Dollar Earnings 📈

A BOI-approved venture, Yesol Lanka in Puttalam, is transforming local environmental waste into an export success story, turning discarded fish-processing by-products into premium animal feed ingredients. • Investment & Operations: Backed by a US$ 3 million investment on a 50-acre site in Madurankuliya, processing up to 100 metric tons of fish waste daily. It pays local fishermen and waste collectors Rs. 20–30 per kg for raw materials. • Export Earnings: Generates US$ 2 million to US$ 2.5 million annually by exporting 30,000 to 35,000 metric tons of fishmeal, fish oil, and fish paste. A key buyer includes CP Company of Vietnam, a global leader in shrimp farming. • Employment & Environment: Directly employs 45 people alongside extensive indirect jobs. The factory has achieved 100% Green Project status by using recyclable IBC boxes and plastic pallets. • Market Potential: The venture capitalizes on the global fishmeal and fish oil market, valued at US$ 9.9 billion in 2026. While Sri Lanka lands 480,000 to 530,000 metric tons of fish annually, it currently exports less than 3% as processed marine ingredients, signaling massive room for sector growth and economic diversification.