Fishing boats docked in srilankan fishery port during corona period.
Adobe Stock
The government of Sri Lanka has joined the international and joint action plan led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2001 for the prevention, deterrence, and elimination of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, to restore depleted fish stocks and ensure food security.
According to the prominent media outlet in Sri Lanka, Ada Derana, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Water, and Ocean Resources to sign the regional action plan related to measures against IUU fishing.
Furthermore, this plan will combat illegal fishing in the shared economic regions, such as Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka, as well as in areas beyond national jurisdiction in the surrounding seas and oceans.
In June, FAO released a new report that offers the clearest-ever picture of global marine fish stocks. This is the most comprehensive analysis of its kind ever published and was presented at the UN Ocean Conference.
It shows that 64.5% of global fish stocks are fished within biologically sustainable levels. When measured by volume, 77.2% of global fisheries landings come from sustainable stocks.
In line with this, FAO called for urgent action to improve data collection and expand the use of science-based management, especially in small-scale fisheries where information gaps are greatest.