Efforts being made by the Government of Sri Lankato promote responsible Small scale fisheries & the rights of small scale fishing communities Shantha Bandara, Senior Assistant Secretary (Dev) MFAR Sri Lanka.

Marine Fisheries Sector Length of the Coastal Belt 1,770 km Territorial Sea 21,700 sq. km 2 Contiguous Zone 22,600 km 2 Continental shelf 27,800 km 2 Exclusive Econ; Zone 517,000 km 2

AT A GLANCE THE FISHERIES RESOURCES Fresh Water Bodies - 255,000ha Perennial Tank - 155,000ha Seasonal Tanks - 100,000ha Rivers-103 Coastal Districts- 14 Marine Fishery Villages Inland Fishery Villages Total Fishers Marine/Inland/Lagoon fishing - 200,000 Trade/Services/Input Supply - 600,000 Dependents on fishery industry- 2,400,000

AT A GLANCE THE FISHERIES SECTOR FACILITIES Major Fishery Harbours - 14 Anchorages- 34 Fish Landing sites Cold rooms- 60 Boatyards-29 Fishing Gear Factories - 06 Fishery co-operative societies-900 Fish Processing Factories -22

Fishery Resources Estimated Resource Potential (tons) Current Production Coastal250,000164,000 Offshore Deep Sea 150,00091,000 Inland & Aquaculture 100,00030,000

Trends in Coastal Fisheries No of boats 23,74224,81825,31125,63026,16525,57726,52128,16428, Fish produc tion mt. 165,264140,270134,130157,500175,280167,530176,250163,850154, Catch per boat (kg. mt.)

Types of fishing crafts Non-motorized Traditional craft Multy-day craft FRP with OBM Motorized Traditional craft 3 1/2 ton boat

Key Management Institutions Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (MFAR) -line Ministry Policy & project formulation Planning & monitoring Control of the Budget Provincial Ministries of Fisheries Fisheries within the territorial waters &inland areas Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (DFAR) Management, Regulation, Conservation & development of fisheries & aquatic resources in Sri Lanka

Key Management Institutions Cont. Cost Conservation Department –Conservation and management of coastal zone of Sri Lanka. National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) Promote and conduct research activities directed towards the identification, assessment management, conservation and development of aquatic Resourced. National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) Development & management of aquaculture & Inland fisheries

Management Initiatives. All countries have laws & Regulations to ensure the sustainable utilization of fish resources through two approaches. i.Limiting the number of boats, fishermen, fishing gear (nets, hooks etc.) in a fishery to ensure that the resource is not depleted through excessive fishing. (limiting the effort to avoid over exploitation) ii.Prohibiting the use of fishing gear & methods harmful to the resource and/or habitats

Management measures under the Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Act Registration of fishing crafts.(s.15 &16) Regulations published in the gazette No.109 ( ), No.1055/13 ( ), and No. 948/24 ( ) Fishing Operation license (s ) Regulation 948/25 ( ) Prohibition of dynamite or poisonous fishing (s.- 27) Prohibited fishing gears & fishing nets (s ) Prohibition or Regulation of export & import of fish (s.30) Declaration of closed or open seasons for fishing (s.34) Declaration of fisheries reserves (s.36-37) Aquaculture Management license (s.39-43)5

Important Regulations Framed under the Act Lobster fisheries Management Regulations Gazette No. 1123/2 on Purse-seine net Fishery Regulations Gazette No. 437/46 on , No. 859/3 on (Amendment) Chank Fisheries Management & export Regulation 2001 Beach Seine Regulation 1984 Export & Import of Live Fish Regulation /13 on

Community based fisheries management through fisheries Committees( Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act. No 02. of 1996) Section 31 –Declaration of management areas (inland Water body, lagoon & Sea area) Section 32 –Establishment of Fisheries Committees & Authorities –Committees can be transformed In to fisheries management authorities.

Role of Fisheries Management Committees Preparation & implementation of management plan for the area. Plan has to be approved by DG-DFAR. Role of Fisheries management authority It can make recommendations to the ministry/ minister on, Fishing Gear to be used in the area Close Seasons Species to be taken Fishing time

Gazetted Fishery Management Areas Marine Areas -02 Major Lagoons -04 Inland Water bodies -05 Proposed Inland Water Bodies -18

Coastal Zone Management Plan – 2004 (Gazzetted on 24 th ) Special Area Management Sites SAM is a locally based geographically specific planning process. Highly participatory practice. Allows fro the comprehensive management of natural resources with the actual involvement of local community –Gazetted SAM Sites – 05 –Identified potential SAM sites- 27

Fisheries Cooperative Societies FCS in Sri Lanka can be define as a collective organization which are working to find Solutions to socio economic and cultural issues of fishing community. No. of FCS 982 Membership161,000 Role of Cooperative in Fisheries management- –Many of FSC (Marine & Inland Sector) are active in Management of Fisheries conducted by their members. –Management initiatives, To avoid racecourses conflict. Recommending of resource friendly fishing gear. Community empowerment. Restricting entry (inland Fisheries and Lagoon Fisheries). Introduction of New Technology for their members. Awareness on resource management.

Major Issues Non availability and update fish resource data (The last fish resource survey were carries out over 25 years ago) Fisheries management has been weak & despite there being comprehensive laws and associated regulations management of coastal fisheries is yet weak. Thus there is a urgent need for promote co – management; requires awareness building and Community empowerment and strengthening of community based organizations. Lack of monitoring control and surveillance Socio political pressures. Lack of participation of other stakeholder groups. Community responsibility towards sustainable resource management.