By: Staff Writer
November 08, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s achievement in securing international sustainability certification for its North-Western blue swimming crab fishery has brought welcome recognition to the country’s seafood industry. But behind this success lies a much more serious national question: how effectively is Sri Lanka protecting its marine resources from overfishing, destructive fishing practices and inadequate regulatory supervision?
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification covering the blue swimming crab fishery in Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar demonstrates that responsible fisheries management can create international export opportunities. Yet, it also highlights the shortcomings that must be addressed before similar achievements can be extended across the country’s wider fishing industry.
Sri Lanka possesses valuable marine resources capable of supporting export earnings, employment and economic development. However, these resources are not unlimited. Without effective scientific monitoring, sustainable harvesting practices and consistent enforcement, the country risks exhausting the very resources on which thousands of fishing families depend.
A decade to achieve what regulation should guarantee
The blue swimming crab improvement initiative began in 2013 through cooperation between the Seafood Exporters’ Association of Sri Lanka and the National Fisheries Institute Crab Council.
It took more than ten years to achieve international certification through scientific stock assessments, improved data collection, harvesting strategies and measures to protect juvenile crabs.
One important intervention was the introduction of a minimum purchasing weight of 100 grams for blue swimming crabs to prevent the premature harvesting of smaller crabs.
This raises an important question about the wider fisheries sector: why should effective scientific management require an internationally supported improvement programme before becoming an established national practice?
The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has a central responsibility to ensure that sustainable harvesting requirements are effectively monitored and enforced.
Regulations alone cannot protect marine resources unless fishing activities are regularly inspected, violations investigated and penalties consistently imposed.
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