Symposium on participatory approaches to reservoir fisheries management: issues, challenges and policies. Dambulla, Sri Lanka, 04-06 Oct. 2004. Session I: Community-based fisheries management: experience in other countries

This paper advocates strategies, processes and practices that enable: livelihoods approaches rather than resource-based approaches, ‘direct’ institutional and policy development, rather than ‘project demonstrations’, and support for regional, national and local communications. (Pdf contains 12 pages).

Symposium on participatory approaches to reservoir fisheries management: issues, challenges and policies. Dambulla, Sri Lanka, 04-06 Oct. 2004 Session I. Community-based fisheries management; experience in other countries: presentation on STREAM Vietnam’s experience

Established in early 2002, STREAM Vietnam has so far attained a number of good experiences and lessons in using participatory approaches for its work. The Country Office has been able to link to a wide range of stakeholders, and is working hard to build close relationships amongst them, so that institutional entities can better support the livelihoods of poor aquatic resources users, and support disadvantaged groups of people to improve their living standards by themselves. Reservoir fisheries and co-management are at early stage in Vietnam, but in certain places and industries co-management has brought about successful results by involving proactive participation of communities. Situated on the same continent and having many similarities, the interaction in agriculture and fisheries sector between Vietnam and Sri Lanka has brought the two countries closer. Being members of the STREAM family, there are great opportunities for exchange of experiences and lessons towards sustainable management of reservoir resources. (PDF has 11 pages.)

Rotifera from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 2. Further studies on the Eurotatoria including new records

In the first paper of this series, Chengalath and Fernando (1973) dealt with the genus Lecane from Sri Lanka. In all, twenty five species were recorded, of which seventeen species were new records. Two new species were also described. On the present paper the authors deal with the rest of the Eurotatoria. Again they have found many new records. In all 79 species are described in the present paper of which 47 are new records. The present study is based on the examination of over 300 samples from 135 localities including large and small tanks, ponds of various sizes, rice fields, streams and marshes. The collections cover the whole area of Sri Lanka and were taken during different seasons of the year mainly from 1968-1972.

Report of the Indian Mackerel Working Group Meeting, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 28-29 May, 2012

Stock structure approaches and consequences of management in the eight member countries. Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) genetic stock studies and workplan

Report of the national stakeholder consultation workshop on Sri Lanka NPOA for the conservation and management of sharks, 03 December, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka

The objectives of the workshop were to; ensure shark catches were sustainable; assess threats to shark populations; identify vulnerable shark stocks; protect biodiversity; improve consultation involving stakeholders; minimize waste a discards and facilitate monitoring and landings data.

Report of the survey of shark fisheries for conservation and management of shark resources, Sri Lanka

A shark survey was conducted between October, 2012 and December, 2013 in order to strengthen the existing data collection and research thus improving conservation and management of sharks in Sri Lanka.

Education and awareness programme on marine protected area management, Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary, Sri Lanka

The objectives of the education programme included: making the fishing community and the younger generation aware of the importance of conserving marine resources; to obtain their suggestions and opinions; and to identify gaps and needs to strengthen local participation.

Report of the final workshop on education, capacity development and monitoring in support of Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary (BRMS) management, Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka, 23 May, 2015

Objectives of the workshop included: presentation of research to stakeholders; briefing of stakeholders on project objectives, contents and activities; to get stakeholder perceptions and suggestions.

Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (Essential EAFM) training and TOT in Sri Lanka

This report presents presentations from representatives of 12 countries, key outcomes and recommendations for the future.

The Indonesian ornamental fish trade: case studies and options for improving livelihoods while promoting sustainability in Banggai and Banyuwangi

The four main objectives of this case study are: 1. Understanding market chains: an overview of the market chain from Indonesian reefs to international retail, with greater detail for case study sites. 2. Identifying poor people in the market chains: including people involved in the chain of custody and others who may be indirectly involved or impacted. 3. Understanding the influence of the marine ornamentals trade on the livelihoods of poor people: the case study looks specifically for underlying as well as obvious factors contributing to poverty reduction, and identify examples of better practice for poverty reduction in the marine ornamentals trade, including examples of positive livelihood outcomes from participation of poor people. 4. Identifying recommendations to improve poor people’s livelihoods. (PDF contains 286 pages)

STREAM Country Strategy Paper: Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka the incidence of poverty varies among regions and livelihoods; aquatic resources users represent a poor category in many regions and therefore a vulnerable group. In December 2004 the country was hit by a Tsunami originating off the coast of Aceh in Indonesia, which affected the livelihoods of a large section of coastal aquatic resource users. The country is currently engaged in a major humanitarian effort to improve the livelihoods of aquatic resources users through various donor-funded projects. (PDF contains 18 pages)

Nutrient dynamics of seasonal tanks in the dry zone of Sri Lanka in relation to their hydrological regimes

Village tanks are put to a wide range of uses by the rural communities that depend on them for their survival. As the primacy of irrigation has decreased under these tanks due to a variety of climatic and economic reasons there is a need to reevaluate their use for other productive functions. The research presented in this paper is part of a programme investigating the potential to improve the management of living aquatic resources in order to bring benefits to the most marginal groups identified in upper watershed areas. Based on an improved typology of seasonal tanks, the seasonal changes and dynamics of various water quality parameters indicative of nutrient status and fisheries carrying capacity are compared over a period of one year. Indicators of Net (Primary) Productivity (NP): Rates of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) change, Total Suspended Solids (TSS): Total Suspended Volatile solids (TVSS) ratios are the parameters of principle interest. Based on these results a comparative analysis is made on two classes of ‘seasonal’ and ‘semi-seasonal’ tanks. Results indicate a broad correlation in each of these parameters with seasonal trends in tank hydrology. Highest productivity levels are associated with periods of declining water storage, whilst the lowest levels are associated with the periods of maximum water storage shortly after the NW monsoon. This variation is primarily attributed to dilution effects associated with depth and storage area. During the yala period, encroachment of the surface layer by several species of aquatic macrophyte also has progressively negative impacts on productivity. The most seasonal tanks show wider extremes in seasonal nutrient dynamics, overall, with less favourable conditions than the ‘semi-seasonal’ tanks. Never the less all the tanks can be considered as being highly productive with NP levels comparable to fertilised pond systems for much of the year. This indicates that nutrient status is not likely to be amongst the most important constraints to enhancing fish production. Other potential management improvements based on these results are discussed. [PDF contains 19 pages]

Stormsmart coasts in action: Two case studies of local level climate change adaptation

Coastal communities throughout the United States have dealt with the devastating effects of storms for centuries, however today’s threats are greater due to three factors. First, the population along the coastline has grown, and is projected to increase.i Additionally, past land use management decisions in the coastal zone have rarely led to the greatest protection from threats. Finally, climate change is predicted to affect coastal areas by accelerating current sea level rise rates and possibly increasing storm intensity.ii These factors compounded together mean that coastal communities are facing a very dangerous situation that threatens economies and human life. (PDF contains 4 pages)

The predicament of the freshwater fisheries and aquaculture of Sri Lanka

A discussion is presented on the current problems facing the freshwater fisheries of Sri Lanka, following the decision taken by the Government to abolish the Inland Fisheries Division of the Fisheries Ministry and to stop aid to freshwater fisheries and aquaculture on the grounds that such practices are not in accordance with the history and tradition of the people of Sri Lanka. Without government subsidies, help and regulation, the freshwater fishery and aquaculture sectors are in grave danger of complete collapse. The need for a comprehensive management plan for the multiple use of the country's reservoirs is stressed.