The Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources has launched a programme to bring the management of Sri Lanka’s shark fishing industry into line with international standards, Daily Mirror reported on Saturday.
A discussion on sustainable shark fishery management was held recently at the ministry under its Secretary, Dr. B.K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, with Susantha Kahawatta, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, taking part.
A trade built on by-catch
Officials said sharks are caught primarily as by-catch by Sri Lanka’s multi-day fishing vessels rather than being targeted directly — a distinction that shapes how the industry can be regulated, since the catch is a by-product of fishing for other species.
The export of legally permitted shark products, including fins, gills, jaws and skin, along with certain live ornamental shark species, contributes to the country’s foreign exchange earnings, officials noted.
That commercial value sits against a conservation problem: several shark species are considered endangered or threatened globally. Officials stressed the need to manage the industry in line with international conservation and fisheries standards.
What already applies
The government has taken measures to protect shark species that are prohibited from being caught in Sri Lankan waters, and to ensure only legally permitted species and products are exported.
The new programme is aimed at further strengthening monitoring, management and regulatory measures so that shark resources are used sustainably and protected.
Wider pressure on the fishery
The move comes as the broader picture for Sri Lanka’s marine resources darkens. The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency reported this week that the fish harvest in Sri Lankan waters has been in gradual decline since 2014.
Enforcement on the domestic side has also been active. In August, four people were arrested at Suduwella over a seizure of shark meat.
No other verified newsroom had carried the ministry’s announcement by late Saturday night, about an hour after Daily Mirror published it.
