The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development says that out of the seafood exports last year, fish exports alone have brought in Rs. 28.68 billion in foreign exchange. In addition, foreign exchange earned from exports of ornamental fish reached Rs. 1.67 billion while other seafood exports have also helped earn a large amount of foreign exchange. Seaweed exports earned Rs. 5.3 million, exports of lagoon shrimp earned Rs. 1.931 billion and freshwater shrimp exports brought in Rs. 154 million, according to the Ministry. These figures were revealed during a meeting held between the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera and the seafood exporters at the Ministry on Friday (02). The Minister at the meeting said the government will provide more facilities to encourage seafood exporters in the future. He said all stakeholders need to give their support to make the fisheries sector the third highest contributor to the national economy by 2020.