Key Problems and Issues in the Fisheries Sector in Sri Lanka

(1) Problems in sustainable fisheries management

(a) Lack of authentic, continues, comparable and reliable statistics on the fish
resource and socio-economic profile of the fishing community.
(b) Lack of co- management systems to manage commercial fisheries in Sri
Lanka.
(c) Political constraints to implement existing legal measures to prevent over
exploitation of fish resource and to eliminate destructive fishing methods in
the country. E.g. Dynamite fishing/banned fishing gear
(d) Lack of proper monitoring and surveillance system to prevent illegal fishing
by local as well as foreign fishing vessels.

(2) Disparity of the distribution of fishery infrastructure development in the country

such as fishery harbours, roads, cold room facilities and fish markets. For an
instance from Colombo to Kirinda(down south) there are 9 fishery harbours.
However, only 03 fishery harbours exists from Colombo to Puttalam. Northern
and Eastern area also prevail same situation. This situation is a major barrier to
develop offshore/deep sea fishery in those areas. As a result of this situation more
and more fishermen are engaged in coastal fishery and tend to over exploitation of
coastal fish resource. Increasing number of coastal fishing fleet has an adverse
impact on fishing incomes and hence living standard of the fishing community.
Therefore, attention should be paid to eliminate this disparity. Most of the
fishermen living in Western and Northwestern provinces think that they are being
discriminated by the former governments.

(3) Lack of efficient fish marketing system

(a) Inadequate fish marketing infrastructure facilities at fish landing centres.
(b) Monopsonic or oligopsonic natures of fish markets prevent getting fair price
for fishermen (producers) as well as consumers.
(c) Inadequate government intervention in fish marketing. Market share of
Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC) is less than 2%. Therefore, CFC's role in
fish marketing should be strengthening to establish fair/ competitive fish price
for both producers and consumers.

(4) Poor living standard of fishing community. This is a result of:

(a) Middlemen's exploitative role
(b) Lower educational profile
(c) Lack of thrift habits and improper household management
(d) Indebtedness

(5) Lack of environmental considerations at policy level.

Rapid aquatic habitat degradation will lead to extinction of coastal fish
resource. Unauthorized coastal dwellings, improper waste dumping and
 increasing fishing pressure are among the causes of environmental
degradation. Moreover, due to unavailability of sustainable practices in
brackish water aquaculture (e.g. Shrimp farming) aquatic habitat degradation
has been accelerated. Therefore, new government essentially should pay
attention to environmental sound development strategies in developing the
fisheries sector.

(6) Lack of innovative fisheries research.

Data and information are vital for the sustainable development of fisheries sector.
To achieve this objective, priority should be given to innovative fisheries
research. Therefore, strengthening NARA's role is an important factor for the
sectoral development. The role played by NARA in the past should be re-
investigated with her objectives to rectify the shortcoming of NARA (see CARP
report on NARA, 1999). The political interventions of interested parties to satisfy
their own goals in the past disturbed and destroyed the working environment of
NARA and resulted in high employee (academia) turnover. Technical support
index (TSI) of NARA is bellowing the nationally as well as internationally
accepted levels. Further, for the past 10-15 years non-research staff is
continuously increasing and research budget is used for non-research activities.

To strengthen NARA,

(a) Establish good working environment for the research staff.

(b) Identify priority areas for fisheries research. The need based applied
fisheries research is essential for the sectoral development.
(c) Governing board should be comprised of intellectuals, experts in the fishing
industry and community representation to guide the research staff.
(d) Establish active coordination among institutions doing similar type of
research. E.g. Universities
(e) Establish merit based award system for the scientists engaged in innovative
fisheries research.
(f) Develop performance indicators to measure the innovativeness of fisheries
research.
(g) Monitor research documentation.
(h) Establish effective carrier development path for the research staff.
(i) Establish productivity/quality circles among employees.
(j) Strengthen existing extension unit to disseminate outcome of research
among fishing community.
(k) Establish a post of Deputy Director General for research planning and
management