Sri Lanka National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (SL-NPOA-SHARKS)

The fisheries industry of Sri Lanka contributes significantly to the nutrition, employment and food security, foreign exchange earnings, and government revenue, and therefore its sustainability is a primary concern in economic development of the country. Sri Lanka agrees to the concerns expressed by the global community that shark resources worldwide are facing serious threats to their sustainability from technological improvements in fishing, expansion of fishing areas and effort, easy access to distant markets and steadily increasing demand for shark products particularly in the eastern markets.
Sri Lanka is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, Convention on the International Trade in the Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora and several other international treaties that concern the conservation and management of living resources and biodiversity, and a member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. Sri Lanka has developed several national instruments such as policy guidelines, laws and regulations, and plans of action to guide the process of implementation of the commitments made under the above treaties.
This document, which is entitled the Sri Lanka National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (SL-NPOA–Sharks), contains measures that are being implemented and those proposed to be adopted and implemented for the conservation and management of shark resources in Sri Lanka waters. It has been prepared considering the guidelines stipulated in the FAO Code of Conduct of Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA–Sharks), and in consultation with fishery managers, fisheries researchers, academics, fishing industry and trade, fishing community, NGOs and CBOs. Its preparation was supported by the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME) Project, which is a regional cooperation project.
SL-NPOA-Sharks provides information on the status of sharks in Sri Lanka, regulatory and administrative framework related to shark fishing, issues concerning conservation and management of shark fisheries, and strategies for achieving the objective of the IPOA-Sharks.
The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 (FARA) is the main legal instrument that provides for the management, regulation, conservation and development of fisheries and aquatic resources in Sri Lanka, and gives effect to Sri Lanka’s obligations under certain international and regional fisheries agreements. The Fisheries (Regulation of Foreign Fishing Boats) Act, No. 59 of 1979 (FFBA) provides for regulation, control and management of fishing activities by foreign boats in Sri Lanka waters. Both these Acts are administered by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR), which has the overall mandate for the implementation of the provisions incorporated in them.
A number of provisions included in FARA and FFBA, and regulations made under those provisions are applicable for all fisheries in Sri Lanka including shark fisheries. Implementation of those provisions and regulations is essential for general management of all fisheries in the country including shark fisheries. In addition to the above, a number of draft regulations are under the process of promulgation to give effect to the obligations of Sri Lanka under certain international and regional fisheries agreements. These regulations once enforced will have beneficial effects on the management of, among other fisheries, shark fisheries in high seas.
Under the provisions in FARA, regulations have already been made specifically for the conservation and management of shark fisheries with two different objectives, i.e. optimum utilization of the carcasses of harvested sharks, and protection of thresher sharks, which are threatened or vulnerable.
SL-NPOA-Sharks is to be implemented as an integral part of the Sri Lanka National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Plan. The main responsibility of its implementation lies with the DFAR. Several other agencies also have major roles to play in its implementation. Resources required for its implementation need to be allocated from the National Budget. A coordinating committee comprising representatives of the respective organizations under the Chair of the Director General of the DFAR (DG) is to be set up to review the progress of its implementation and where necessary to make adjustments to improve its effectiveness.
SL-NPOA–Sharks is intended to have an initial duration of four years (2014-2017) focused on establishment of the necessary capacity, systems and databases while managing the fishing effort on the targeted and non-targeted shark fisheries based on an active and progressive precautionary approach in consultation with the stakeholders. Upon the conclusion of this initial period the overall progress and the impacts of implementation will be evaluated against its goals and objectives, with a view to revision of SLNPOA–Sharks taking into account of the changes in the fisheries.