Sri Lanka’s fishing industry, a major contributor to the country’s economy and a source of livelihood for large numbers of people, is facing a growing combination of economic and operational pressures, according to those working in the sector.
The industry operates through a range of methods, including multi-day fishing vessels, one-day boats, beach seine fishing and traditional pole fishing. Together, these activities provide direct and indirect employment to a substantial number of people. But fishermen and industry representatives say rising operating costs, declining catches in some periods and illegal fishing practices are making it increasingly difficult for legitimate operators to remain in business.
Among the most persistent concerns is the continued use in some areas of illegal fishing nets, prohibited fishing methods and destructive practices such as the use of dynamite. Fishermen say such activities damage marine resources while placing those who operate legally at a disadvantage. The consequences, they argue, extend beyond individual fishing communities to the sustainability of the country’s marine resources.
At the same time, the cost of conducting legitimate fishing operations has risen sharply. Fuel, fishing nets, boat engines and spare parts have all become major expenses. For owners of multi-day vessels, the financial burden can be particularly severe. Launching a vessel requires substantial expenditure, while a fishing trip can keep a boat at sea for nearly two months. Even after returning with a catch, owners say that in some cases the value of the fish landed is insufficient to cover the costs incurred.
The problem is compounded by debt. Many vessel owners operate their businesses with bank loans, meaning that higher expenses combined with lower catches can leave them carrying an increasing financial burden. Some boats, according to industry representatives, are now being left tied up in harbours because their owners cannot afford to operate them.
Tiron Mendis, chairman of the All Ceylon Multi-Day Boat Owners’ Association, said many of the industry’s problems remained unresolved despite some measures taken by successive governments.
“Today, we have many problems. Although the government has provided solutions to some of them, there are still no solutions to many of the main problems. This situation is not limited to the present government. We presented these problems to previous governments as well. The cost of fuel, spare parts and other expenses has increased significantly,” he said.
Mendis said multi-day fishing was an important source of foreign exchange for the country and argued that systematic support or concessions were needed to protect the sector.
“Today, some boats have to remain tied up in harbours. Many vessel owners are operating this industry while being in debt,” he said.
Ruwan Fernando, secretary of the All Ceylon Multi-Day Boat Owners’ Association, said the difficulties facing the sector were not recent developments. The cost of putting a boat to sea had become extremely high, he said, while a voyage lasting nearly two months did not necessarily generate a profit.
“Today, it costs a great deal to put a boat to sea. Even after staying at sea for nearly two months, in some cases there is no profit when the cost is compared with the fish catch brought back. Even when there is a profit, it is very small,” he said.
The pressures are not confined to multi-day fishing. Joseph Lowe, chairman of the Beach Seine Owners’ Association, said those working in beach seine fishing were also confronting a range of difficulties.
Lowe said he had worked in the sector for more than 40 years and that beach seine fishermen had to move between the eastern and western coastlines according to seasonal conditions. Although a large number of people are associated with the industry, the number actively engaged in fishing is more limited, he said. Weather conditions and seasonal patterns require fishermen to move between the two coasts in order to continue their work.
The industry has also faced disputes over the use of machinery to pull beach seines. Lowe said a shortage of labour had made it necessary to turn towards new methods. At the same time, he noted that beach-seine fish remained popular because consumers could obtain the catch fresh, creating continuing demand for the product. He said he expected the necessary support would be provided to allow the industry to continue without disruption.
For one-day fishing operators, the cost of equipment has emerged as another major barrier. Roshantha Fernando, secretary of the Chilaw District of the One-Day Boat Owners’ Association, said the high price of spare parts and fishing nets was the principal problem facing the industry.
“Fishing nets and equipment are extremely expensive. The prices of boat engines and spare parts are also very high. As a result, a situation has arisen in which many people are leaving the industry. Many people are also reluctant to enter the industry for the first time,” he said.
He also pointed to periods in which fish catches had fallen compared with the past, adding another layer of uncertainty to an industry already facing higher costs.
For many fishermen, leaving the sector is not a straightforward solution. Industry representatives say large numbers of people have spent long periods working in fishing and have become accustomed to the occupation, making a transition to alternative employment difficult.
They are therefore calling for government intervention, including some form of relief programme covering fuel, fishing nets, boat engines and spare parts. Such measures, they argue, would help legitimate operators remain active in a sector that contributes to livelihoods and foreign-exchange earnings.
But the industry’s concerns extend beyond costs. Fishermen also insist that controlling illegal fishing and protecting marine resources are essential if legitimate fishing is to have a sustainable future.
The pressures facing Sri Lanka’s fishermen therefore converge at a difficult point: the rising cost of going to sea, the financial burden of maintaining vessels, uncertain catches, labour shortages and competition from illegal and destructive fishing methods. For an industry on which large numbers depend, the question is no longer simply how much fish can be caught, but whether legitimate fishermen can continue to afford to go out to sea at all.
