Problems of Sri lankan Lagoon Fishery
In Sri Lanka, there are two main
lagoons, Puttalam lagoon and Negombo lagoon which have fishery development. In
this article, the social, biological and environmental problems associated with
the fishers and fishery in Puttalam lagoon and Negombo lagoon are discussed
with their causes and possible solutions.
Puttalam lagoon
Biological Issues
Socio – economic issues
Governance issues
Negombo Lagoon
2019.08.30
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Puttalam lagoon
Puttalam lagoon is situated in
the coastal area of Puttalam district in North Western Province, Sri Lanka. The
biological, social, and environmental problems related to the Puttalam lagoon
fishery are as follows.
Biological Issues
01. Depletion
of fishery resources is a problem in Puttalam lagoon. High fishing intensity
and fishing beyond sustainable limits are can be considered as the causes for
this problem. A solution for this problem is,
· Limiting the number of fishers and controlling
access to who can fish in the lagoon.
Another cause for
this is the use of small meshed nets and increased numbers of nets. To prevent
this.
· Conduct investigation and determine minimum mesh
size of nets used for catching shrimp.
There
are another two causes for the depletion of fishery resources. Continued use of
banned illegal fishing gear due to lack of enforcement and Lack of awareness
among enforcement agencies. A solution for these causes is,
· Strict enforcement of regulations banning
illegal and harmful gear and Awareness creation for security agencies involved
in enforcement.
Another
cause is excessive trawling at the lagoon mouth reduces the quantity of shrimp
and fish entering the lagoon. A solution for this is,
· Introduce collaborative management of fisheries.
Socio – economic issues
01. Decreasing
income from fishing is another problem. because of fishing by out siders (non-members)
particularly during the peak season. Solutions for that are,
·
Ensure livelihoods of fishers through a strictly
enforced licensing scheme.
·
Control access to who can fish in the lagoon.
Theft
of fish and fishing gear as fishing is conducted for the whole day and theft of
fish from nets at night are the reasons to that problem. The solution mentioned
below can be given for this problem.
·
Strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance
capability of concerned authorities.
02. Another
socio-economic problem is restrictions on fishing activities. Because of restriction
of fishing areas due to tourism development activities and due to security
zones. As a solution,
· Establishing institutional mechanism enabling
coordination between agencies to minimize economic damage to lagoon fishers and
establish planned water use zonation.
03. Shortage
of fishing gear is another problem. As a solution for this, facilitate easy
access to fishing gear.
04. Problems
in marketing fish. Because of no organized transport facility, no market for
the catch, do not get fair price for fish, no proper marketing facility,
unscrupulous fish vendors, large landing by banned gear depress prices and
impact on earnings of lagoon fishers. Solutions for these situations are as
follows.
·
Provision of better marketing facilities.
·
Strict enforcement of regulations against banned
gear.
05. Problems
of infrastructure is another problem. Because of traditional landing centers
lost due to the illegal construction. Conflicts between resident fishers, IDPs
and migrant fishers. Conflicts between fishers in Kurakkanhena, Kuringnapitiya
and Mandalakudawa due to the use of “Kudadela”. As a solution for this,
·
Engage the appropriate authorities in policing
and monitoring control and surveillance.
Environmental
issues
01. Destruction
and pollution of the lagoon eco system adversely impacting of fishing. Because
of illegal encroachment into the lagoon, destruction of mangroves for
aquaculture and other development activities and pollution of lagoon water due
to sewage disposal. As for the solutions,
·
Establishing lagoon boundaries to minimize illegal
encroachment.
· Preparing and implementing a mangrove management
plan for the lagoon with community participation.
· Establishing institutional mechanism enabling
coordination between agencies to minimize damage to lagoon environment.
Governance issues
01. Lack
of data and information for management decisions. Because of lack of catch and
effort data of the lagoon fishery and lack of research/ investigations on
fishery resources and lagoon ecosystem. Solutions
for this issue are,
· Introduce a collaborative fisheries data
collection system for the lagoon, which involves both government and fishers in
data collection.
· Carry out research on data major fish and
crustacean varieties (biology, population studies etc.) and share results
/information with concerned institutions.
· Carry out periodic research/investigations on
the status of the ecosystem/environment.
· Establish close integration horizontal and
vertical) between DFAR, NARA, NAQDA etc.
Negombo Lagoon
There are some
problems associated with the fishers and fishery in Negombo lagoon. Causes for
such problems and solutions for that problems are mentioned below.
01. Lack
of management under existing institutional arrangements. Because of fisheries
communities inactive and lack coordination, inadequate powers for fisheries
management authority, lack of enforcement of management regulations.
Solutions
· Revive and strengthen fisheries communities.
· Establish suitable institutional mechanism for
wider stakeholder participation in management.
· DFAR to take lead role and show more commitment
and responsibility towards lagoon fisheries management.
· Establish a functional monitoring, surveillance
and enforcement mechanism.
02. Depletion
of fishery resources. Because of open access leading to increased fishing
effort, use of destructive fishing practices, destruction of
habitat/environment, lack of management and uncoordinated provision of craft
and gear by different organizations. Solutions for this problem are,
· Limit the number of fishers and control access
to who can fish in the lagoon.
· Strengthen monitoring, surveillance and
enforcement capability.
· Establish institutional mechanism enabling
coordination between relevant agencies to minimize damage to lagoon
environment.
· Develop and implement a comprehensive
collaborative fisheries management plan.
03. Decreasing
income from fishing and indebtedness. High fishing pressure and low catches from
lagoon fishing and destructive and pollution of the lagoon ecosystem adversely
impacting on fish resources are the reasons for that problem. Solutions for
this problem are,
· Prepare and implement an ecosystem-based
fisheries management plan.
· Introduce alternative livelihoods for fishers
and fishing community.
· Educate people on how to manage their income.
· Introduce new methods to manage earnings from
fishing (new investments savings, pension schemes etc.)
04. Habitat
destruction.
Illegal encroachment into the lagoon,
destruction of mangroves for aquaculture and other development activities,
destruction of sea grass beds due to use of harmful and prohibited fishing
methods and fishing gear, sedimentation, pollution of lagoon water due to dumping
of industrial and domestic waste and sewage disposal are the causes to that
problem.
05. Lack
of data and information for management decisions.
Lack
of catch and effort data collection of the lagoon fishery and lack of
research/investigations on fishery resources and lagoon ecosystem are the
reasons to that problem. Solutions for this problem are,
· Introduce a fisheries data collection system for
the lagoon.
· Carry out research on major fish and crustacean
varieties (biology, population studies, etc.) and share results/information
with concerned institutions.
· Carry out periodic research/investigations on
the status of the ecosystem/environment.
· Establish close integration (horizontal and
vertical) between DFAR, NARA, NAQDA, etc.
06. Inadequate
compliance.
Because of violation of rules and
regulations, lack of enforcement by concerned authorities and lack of knowledge
and awareness. As the solutions,
· Conduct awareness programs for fishers and other
stakeholders (on present status, regulations, management plans etc.) through
posters.
· Conduct workshops, meetings and hold discussions
with fishing community including school children.
· Fishers and other stakeholders to be organized
to comply with a voluntary code of conduct.
· Strengthen enforcement capability and enforcement
activities.
AUTHOR : LAKMINI EKANAYAKE2019.08.30
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