Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. It is situated in the middle of Indian Ocean. Because of being an island, Sri Lanka has many endemic freshwater fauna, as well as thousands of marine and brackish water fauna. Fishing is the way of life of most of coastal community. So, the marine fish fauna gives a greater commercial value to the country's economy, as well as well being of the coastal people.

Marine fish are strictly different from freshwater counterparts due to high salinity of sea water, which they live. Also, they are larger than most freshwater species and rich in proteins.

There are about 100+ species of common commercial fish around the country. Crustaceans such as, crabs, lobsters, prawns, and squids, cuttlefish, and sea cucumbers also added to this list instead of fish types due to their high value commercially.

Cartilage fish

Class: Chondrichthyes

Mackerel sharks

Order: Lamniformes. Family: Lamnidae

Threshers

Family: Alopiidae

Requiem sharks

Family: Carcharhinidae

Hammerhead sharks

Family: Sphyrnidae

Guitarfish

Order: Rajiformes. Family: Rhinobatidae

Stingrays

Order: Myliobatiformes. Family: Dasyatidae

Rays

Family: Myliobatidae

Numbfish

Order: Torpediniformes. Family: Narcinidae

Bony fish

Class: Actinopterygii

Scombrid fish

Order: Perciformes. Family: Scombridae

Jacks and allies

Family: Carangidae

Sailfish and allies

Family: Istiophoridae

Swordfish

Family: Xiphiidae

Emperors

Family: Lethrinidae

Snappers

Family: Lutjanidae

Groupers

Family: Serranidae

Sweetlips

Family: Haemulidae

Threadfin bream

Family: Nemipteridae

Parrotfish

Family: Scaridae

Rabbitfish

Family: Siganidae

Barracudas

Family: Sphyraenidae

Mullets

Family: Mugilidae

Cutlassfish

Family: Trichiuridae

Mojarras

Family: Gerreidae

Ponyfish

Family: Leiognathidae

Herrings and allies

Order: Clupeiformes. Family: Clupeidae

Anchovy

Family: Engraulidae

Garfish

Order: Beloniformes. Family: Belonidae

Flying fish

Family: Exocoetidae

Halfbeaks

Family: Hemiramphidae

River garfish

Family: Zenarchopteridae

Crustaceans

Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda

Family: Palaemonidae

Family: Penaeidae

Family: Palinuridae

Family: Scyllaridae

Order: Stomatopoda
Family: Odontodactylidae

Family: Portunidae

Molluscs

Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Teuthida

Family: Loliginidae

Order: Sepiida
Family: Sepiidae

Echinoderms

Class: Holothuroidea

Order: Holothuriida
Family: Holothuriidae

Order: Synallactida
Family: Stichopodidae

References