Fishing communities in Puttalam, Kalpitiya once practiced illegal methods, especially when it came to fishing gear that threatens Dugong-a large marine mammal, and sea grass habitats have chosen A number of alternatives thanks to the conservation initiatives of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).The Sunday Leader spoke to a cross section of the community on the progress in their latest initiatives.Twenty two year-old, Upeka Thanamali says she is very happy to see her father and brothers giving up illegal fishing methods.Asked how it was possible, she says it is due to the initiatives of some non-governmental organisations by providing sewing machines, assisting the ornamental fishing industry and other small business ventures. Apart from teaching at a primary schooI, I also do sewing during my extra time that fetches some Rs. 10,000 per month apart from my salary. So I can help my family with it. Respecting mother nature Husband and wife duo, W. Pradeep Prasanna and Niluka Damayanthi say they have tremendous respect for mother nature. We never use methods that would have a negative impact to ocean resources. We went through hard times but as a family we work hard and cut down on unnecessary expenses. Contrary to popular saying that most fishermen drink and smoke, the majority of them here are neither under the influence of liquor and they do not smoke, says Prasanna.Damayanthi says that since she was married some 20 years ago, she takes part in all her husband’s activities. I think as a family . We should work together it goes a long way. Likewise my two children apart from their school work help us in the day to day activities, she says.Forty-year-old K. B. Nilmini says illegal fishing in the area is less now with more women focusing on sewing. However, she says during the off seasons they do have problems in selling their products. I wish there is a system or method where we could sell it to outsiders. Government institutions could do their role here, she added.Seventeen-year-old, Asela says his father had stopped fishing but his ornamental fishing business is doing well. Now my father makes fishing tanks as he has sufficient orders , he adds.Wildlife Department Deputy Director of Conservation Research and Training, Dr. Lakshman Peiris says the major aim of the project is to reduce the impacts of destructive fishing practices on sea grass habitats and provide income generation opportunities to local communities.Education and awareness programmes have been implemented targeting specific areas of the lagoon to enhance and promote alternative livelihoods.Alternative livelihood projects for fishing communities will include batik, sewing, packaging of dry fish, production of coir mats, ornamental fish breeding, etc. In addition, marketing, branding and finance management training will be provided for community members to improve their products. Selected communities were given some self-sustaining employment, i.e. Batik, sewing machines, ornamental fish rearing, crab farming, etc. Legally authorised fishing nets were distributed among the fishermen to avoid using illegal fishing nets. They aim to reduce fishing pressure to the lagoon and thereby protect dugong and dugong habitats. This can be considered as a trial for community involvement and conservation while getting some incentives. Conservation of dugongs Recognising threats on the survival of the globally endangered dugong population found across the Indian and Pacific Ocean Basin, a global effort was made under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) while establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).In Sri Lanka the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has entered into an MoU with CMS. The MOU that has an understanding that the country strengthens the conservation of dugong and their habitat with financial support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and with the technical support from United Nation Environment Project (UNEP).With this background, the project Enhancing the Conservation Effectiveness of Sea grass Ecosystems Supporting Globally Significant Populations of Dugongs across the Indian and Pacific Ocean Basins, was launched in 2015 executed by the Mohomad Binziard Species Conservation Fund (MBZ).Eight dugong range countries i.e. Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Madagascar, Mozambique and Sri Lanka are involved with the project through various means of activities from community level to policy level stages.Community participation and ownership of dugong and sea grass conservation, introducing sustainable fisheries practices and innovative financial incentives, establishing Locally Managed Marine Protected Areas (LMMPA), and mainstreaming dugong and sea grass conservation priorities into national and regional policies and planning are prominent among global project objectives. This is especially in the North western sea from the Puttalam to Jaffna districts of Sri Lanka where dugongs have been sighted.Due to lack of concern for conservation and a high demand for their meats results in high mortality and a reduction of population. The project comprises eight components working with local communities in north-west Sri Lanka by providing relevant education on the importance of dugongs and their habitat to discourage direct hunting of dugongs as well as negative fishing practices.Establishing a marine conservation coordination centre in north-west Sri Lanka, featuring computerised communication systems to overcome the current lack of communication among relevant stake holders is important. LK4 is component involving the preparation of a multiple community-based management plan in conjunction with the government, fishing communities and the tourism industry. Programmes also involving Baseline Sea grass maps with the distribution and abundance of sea grass in Palk Bay, the Gulf of Mannar and Kalpitiya must be established.Other areas includes conducting field surveys of the Bay of Bengal/Palk Strait area using divers and being supported by community interviews to identify dugong and sea grass hotspots.The other project being attempted is to reduce the impacts of destructive fishing practices on sea grass habitats and provide income generation opportunities to local communities in return for their commitments to wise habitat and natural resource use. LK8 is the facilitating body for coordinate the work carried out by the six other project partners by establishing a National Facilitating Committee.Actual field activities of the projects commenced in mid-2015 and are being continued to date. Global Project A Global Project was initiated to improve the conservation status of dugongs and their sea grass habitats across the Indian and Pacific Ocean to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts for dugongs and their sea grass ecosystems across the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins.The national project goal is to improve the conservation status of dugongs and their sea grass habitats in the Gulf of Mannar. The objective of the Palk Bay National is to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts for dugongs and their sea grass ecosystems in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.