Sri Lanka Misses Key Fisheries Survey as Government Fixates on Politics
- CNL Reporter
- August 30, 2025
- Political
- Politics
- 0 Comments
Sri Lanka lost a crucial chance to assess its rapidly declining marine resources after the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen was denied permission to conduct a fisheries survey in local waters due to bureaucratic delays. The Norwegian-operated vessel, instead, proceeded to Bangladesh for its scheduled research work.
Ole Arve Misund, Special Advisor of Norway’s Institute of Marine Research (IMR), said Sri Lanka missed valuable scientific data needed for sustainable fisheries management. Since 2015, the country’s annual fish catch has plunged from 450,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes, while the fisheries sector’s contribution to GDP has dropped from two percent to just one percent.
Norway has expressed willingness to return with the vessel in 2026 or 2027 through FAO and diplomatic channels. Misund also welcomed Sri Lanka’s efforts to draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign research ships, stressing that transparent rules are essential amid growing geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean.
He further noted that Sri Lanka’s “blue economy” – fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and offshore resources – holds untapped potential if managed sustainably.
Analysts, however, warn that Sri Lanka’s Marxist government continues to devote disproportionate energy to targeting opposition politicians, instead of prioritizing economic opportunities. Critics argue that such political distractions risk undermining long-term strategies to protect fish stocks, strengthen food security, and attract foreign investment.
The episode highlights the urgent need for Colombo to shift focus from political theatrics to policies that safeguard the nation’s maritime future.
