Inland Fisheries Enhancement in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Early attempts o f fisheries enhancement in Sri Lankan freshwater were aimed at establishing commercial fisheries and consequently, exotic cliched species were introduced during the second half of the last century. The major inland fisheries enhancement strategy practiced in Sri Lanka is the development of culture-based fisheries (CBF) in village reservoirs. CBF combines elements of aquaculture and capture fisheries and relies entirely on the natural productivity o f the water body for growth o f fish, and on artificial stocking as a means of recruitment. The aquaculture extension officers of NAQDA and several NGOs have been conducting awareness programmes to educate rural farmers on CBF management. This state-sponsored extension mechanism considerably facilitates inland fisheries resources enhancement in the country. However, due to inadequacies in extension mechanisms in the fisheries authorities of provincial councils and their lack o f coordination with the central government, in some instances there is a conflict of interest between the provincial authorities and the central government. Although there has been a significant policy level advancement providing legal provisions for fisheries and aquaculture development in small reservoirs, in some parts of the country, CBF activity is still considered as a secondary use of reservoirs with low priority.