Located in the West of the highly productive Bay of Bengal, Sri Lanka has relied on fishing both as a source of food and protein and as an employer. Puttalam, home to the second largest lagoon in Sri Lanka, thrives with small-scale fisheries that provided food and livelihoods in the region.
With 88 fishing villages and approximately 165,000 people dependent on it, fisheries in Puttalam have been identified by its residents as their most important ecosystem service, particularly for women, who participate in bivalve gleaning and other post-harvest livelihoods.
The lagoon is an important area for endangered species, such as green sea turtles and dolphins, and contains ecosystems vital for its health such as seagrass and mangroves. Tourism is also important in the Lagoon, which hosts seasonal aquatic sports and has year-round visitors to its islands. The islands additionally have cultural importance as they are connected to local religious values.
However, rising threats from fish production, including pollution from plastics and shrimp farms, illegal night-time fishing, illegal harvest of juvenile fish, and development, including dredging and project development in its extensive mangroves.
Taking steps to protect it fisheries
To encourage more sustainable use of the lagoon’s resources, the Puttalam Lagoon Fisheries Management Area (PLFMA), was designated by the Government of Sri Lanka in 2010. The PLFMA is designed as a clear jurisdiction to bring together stakeholders together under a core management plan.
This has been supported by the area-based management and fisheries measures in place, including though enforcement of the Fisheries Act and its regulations by the Department of Fisheries. There are also regular research missions to monitor the lagoon environment and regular surveillance by the navy and police.
Several conservation measures have been introduced too, including the designation of protected areas, and “no take” zones; signposts displays and awareness raising initiatives; restoration projects, particularly within the degraded mangroves; as well as coral restoration supported by private sector investments.
Introducing an ecosystems approach to fisheries management
Puttalam is one of the selected sites for Ecosystems Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) under the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystems Phase II (BOBLME II) project, a five-year initiative aiming to tackle urgent challenges, including sustainable management of fisheries and restoration of critical marine habitats.
EAFM seeks to balance conservation of biodiversity with the need to maintain food, income and livelihood opportunities for people. This can only be achieved with good governance that strives for social and economic benefits to support the sustainable development of fisheries.
As one of the selected sites, project partners, led by Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO), will work with local stakeholders in Puttalam Lagoon to come up with an EAFM plan, taking into considering the livelihoods of men and women in the fisheries value chain. With its strong governing system already in place, Puttalam provides BOBLME II with the opportunity to support in strengthening existing conservation efforts, while looking to improve livelihoods opportunities for local communities. Through BOBLME II, the partners envision a future where those working in the environment and fisheries sector can come together to create an ecosystem that benefits both nature and humans.
About BOBLME II
BOBLME II, a five-year project (2023-2028) with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) – International Waters and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), is implemented by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAORAP), and executed by IUCN, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) and Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO). The collaborative project aims to tackle urgent challenges and promote sustainability in seven countries – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand.