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Fisheries Development and Management Plan of Negombo

Lagoon

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Maligawatte

Colombo 10

March 2013

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REGIONAL FISHERIES LIVELIHOODS PROGRAMME

FOR SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (RFLP)

---------------------------------------------------------

Fisheries development and management plan of Negombo lagoon

(Activity 1.2.5 Prepare Fisheries Development and Management Plan through a

Stakeholder Task Force)

For the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia

Prepared by


Maligawatte, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka

December 2012

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Disclaimer and Copyright

This publication has been made with the financial support of the Spanish Agency of International

Cooperation for Development (AECID) through an FAO trust-fund project, the Regional

Fisheries Livelihoods Programme (RFLP) for South and Southeast Asia. The content of this

publication does not necessarily reflect the opinion of FAO, AECID, MOFAR or RFLP.

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for

educational and other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written

permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction

of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited

without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be

addressed to:

Chief

Electronic Publishing Policy and Support Branch

Communication Division

FAO

Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy

or by e-mail to: [email protected]

© FAO 2012

Bibliographic reference

For bibliographic purposes, please reference this publication as:

DFAR (2012). Fisheries development and management plan of Negombo lagoon. Regional

Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (GCP/RAS/237/SPA): Field

Project Document 2012/LKA/CM/12.

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Contents

Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

1. Negombo lagoon and Fisheries ................................................................................................................. 5

1.1 Negombo lagoon Fishery Management Area ......................................................................................... 5

1.2 Fish resources and productivity .......................................................................................................... 5

1.3 Fishers involved in Negombo lagoon fisheries ................................................................................... 5

1.4 Fishing fleet ........................................................................................................................................ 7

1.5 Fishing gear and methods ................................................................................................................... 8

1.6 Fish production ................................................................................................................................... 9

2. Status of the Fishery ............................................................................................................................... 10

2.1 Assessments of relevant fish stocks .................................................................................................. 10

2.2 Socio-economic status of fishers....................................................................................................... 10

3 Ecological and environmental status of the Lagoon ............................................................................ 11

6. Objectives and Performance Indicators .................................................................................................. 23

7. Control Mechanisms (Management measures)...................................................................................... 24

7.1 Access arrangements ......................................................................................................................... 24

7.2 Input controls .................................................................................................................................... 25

7.3 Voluntary Code of conduct ............................................................................................................... 26

8. Monitoring of the Fishery (data collection and analysis)........................................................................ 26

9. Compliance (surveillance and enforcement) .......................................................................................... 27

10. Research and investigations ................................................................................................................. 27

11. Fisheries development .......................................................................................................................... 28

11.1 Infrastructure facilities .................................................................................................................... 28

11.2 Credit facilities ................................................................................................................................ 28

11.3 Lagoon and ecosystem rehabilitation .............................................................................................. 28

12. Consultation and extension with stakeholders .................................................................................... 29

13. Plan monitoring and review .................................................................................................................. 29

13.1 Monitoring of the Fishery Development and Management Plan .................................................... 29

14. Review and amendment of the Plan ..................................................................................................... 33

References .................................................................................................................................................. 33

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Preface

With the declaration of Negombo lagoon as a fishery management area under Section 31 of the

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act No. 2 of 1996, it became necessary to prepare and

implement a fishery management plan for the lagoon. Although Negombo lagoon has

functioning Fisheries Committees and a Fisheries Management Authority, in the absence of a

systematic and legally recognized plan, a host of fisheries, environmental and social problems

have cropped up in the lagoon which supports many fishery and non-fishery related activities.

The increased intensity and diversity of activities taking place in and around the Negombo

estuary, which have the effect of depleting fish and other aquatic resources and affecting water

quality in the estuary include disposal of sewage, industrial effluents and domestic solid waste in

the estuary, dredging and the construction of inlets into the estuary and other development

activities in the area. These and the illegal land filling that have been going on for some time

have reduced the estuary area, adversely impacting livelihoods of the communities.

The Fisheries Development and Management Plan for Negombo lagoon has been developed to

resolve the fisheries, environmental and social problems associated with the lagoon, conserve the

lagoon environment and support sustainable development of fisheries in the lagoon. It adopts an

ecosystem-based management of fisheries with a strong element of environment conservation.

The Fisheries Development and Management Plan for Negombo lagoon presented here has

been developed by a multi-agency Task Force appointed by the Interim Fisheries Management

Coordinating Committee of Negombo Lagoon, under the guidance of the Department of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, with technical and financial support from the Regional

Fisheries Livelihoods Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

Nations. The members of the Task Force are given in Annex 1.

Nimal Hettiarachchi

Director General


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1. Negombo lagoon and Fisheries

1.1 Negombo lagoon Fishery Management Area

Negombo lagoon has been declared as a Fishery Management Area, under Section 31 of the

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996, by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources and published in the Gazette Extraordinary, No. 1415/12 of the Democratic Socialist

Republic of Sri Lanka dated 18th

October 2005.

Negombo lagoon is a shallow basin estuary of approximately 3,164 ha in extent, situated about

20 km north of Colombo (704’-7

012’ N / 79

047’ – 79

051’ E). It extends 12.5 km in length, 0.6 –

3.6 km in width, has a shoreline of 24 km and a mean depth of 0.65 m. It has a surface area of 35

km2 and holds 22.5 million m

3 of water. The lagoon is connected to the sea by a single narrow

opening, the Negombo channel segment at its northern end, which is open year round (Fig. 1). A

total of thirteen islands of different sizes, mostly covered with mangrove vegetation are situated

towards the outlet to the sea. The size of these islands and the several sand shoals vary from

about 2 ha to slightly more than 30 ha.

Negombo lagoon is part of a much larger Muthurajawela marsh - Negombo lagoon coastal

wetland with a total area of 6,232 ha. The Muthurajawela marsh is 3,068 ha in extent and extends

southwards from the 3,164 ha lagoon. The lagoon itself is bordered by four Divisional Secretary

Divisions; the Negombo DS division on the northern and the western sides, Katana DS division

on the eastern side, Ja-Ela DS division on the south-eastern side and Wattala DS division on the

south.

1.2 Fish resources and productivity

The number of finfish species identified from Negombo lagoon range from 82 to 133. More than

half are marine species entering the lagoon from the sea. The composition of fish varies from

time to time. The seasonal increase in the fish fauna of the lagoon is primarily brought about by

an increase in the number of marine species migrating into the lagoon, coinciding with

increasing salinities in the lagoon. Dominant finfish varieties include the milkfish (Chanos

chanos), catfish, half beaks (Hemiramphidae), grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), giant perch (Lates

calcarifer), surgeon fish, banded etroplus (Etroplus suratensis), silver whiting and pony fish. Of

the 10-14 shrimp species identified, 05 are dominant in lagoon catches. These include Penaeus

indicus, P. semisulcatus, Metapenaeus moyebi, Metapenaeus dobsoni and M. elegans. Three of

these species (Penaeus indicus, P. semisulcatus and Metapenaeus dobsoni) breed in the sea and

the post-larvae migrate to the lagoon for growth and maturation and then move back into the sea,

in the process becoming adults. The other two species can complete their whole life cycles

within the lagoon.

Negombo lagoon is a highly productive ecosystem and its productivity has been estimated to

range from 73 -150 kg/ha/year. The estimated annual fish yield of 1,385.6 MT in 1997 from the

lagoon was valued at SLR 114 million in 1997 (SDC, 1998).

1.3 Fishers involved in Negombo lagoon fisheries

Negombo lagoon is bordered by 09 Fisheries Inspectors (FI) divisions. Full time and part-time

fishers operating in Negombo lagoon by Divisional Secretary Division and FI division during

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Figure 1. Negombo lagoon showing the channel and the basin segments

CHANNEL

SEGMENT

BASIN

SEGMENT

TRANSITION

ZONE

N

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2010 are given in Table 1 below. Of the total of 3,310 fishers, 2,586 or 78% fish full time in the

lagoon, while 724 or 22% are part time fishers who move into the lagoon only during the

southwest monsoon period from May to October when sea fishing is difficult because of strong

currents and high waves. The total of 3,310 includes fishers who fish in the lagoon without boats.

Table 1: Fishers involved in Negombo lagoon fisheries

DS division FI division No. of fishers

Full time Part time Total

Negombo Duwa 88 - 88

Negombo Negombo Town I 39 - 39

Negombo Negombo Town II 120 60 180

Negombo Negombo Town III 1,044 320 1,364

Negombo Pitipana 110 20 130

Negombo Alutkuruwa 255 65 320

Negombo Kepungoda 600 108 708

Wattala Uswetakeyiyawa 140 26 166

Katana Ja-Ela 127 50 177

Ja-Ela Ja-Ela 63 75 138

Total 2,586 724 3,310

Over 85% of the lagoon fishers come from the Negombo DS division and the number of fishers

is low in FI divisions covering the extreme south and northern end of the lagoon. All fishers

from Duwa and Negombo Town I FI divisions are engaged in the stake net fishery in the channel

segment of the lagoon.

1.4 Fishing fleet

Fishing fleet development in Negombo lagoon from 1981 to 2010 is given in Table 2. The

fishing fleet of 1,358 in 2010 was made up of 866 (64%) outrigger canoes and 492 (36%) log

rafts (Table 2).

Table 2: Fishing fleet development in Negombo lagoon

1981 1989 1997 2010

Outrigger canoe (Oru) 300 577 697 866

Log raft (Teppam) 69 - 413 492

Total 369 577 1,110 1,358

The frame survey of the coastal and lagoon fisheries in Negombo fisheries district conducted by

the Negombo district fisheries office in mid-2011 indicated a reduction in the lagoon fishing

fleet. Of the total of 1,269 boats fishing in Negombo lagoon, a total of 1,172 (92.4%) are

reported to fish full-time in the lagoon, while a small number of 97 boats (7.6%) are reported to

fish in both the lagoon and the sea, presumably fishing in the lagoon during the southwest

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monsoon season when the seas are rough. The distribution of Negombo lagoon fishing fleet by

FI division and fishing area during 2011 is given in Table 3.

Table 3: Distribution of lagoon fishing fleet in Negombo by FI division and fishing area

FI Division Lagoon only Lagoon and Sea

Total

Aluthkuruwa 173 22 195

Duwa 30 1 31

Ja-Ela 135 1 136

Kepungoda 304 58 362

Pitipana 108 2 110

Town I 31 2 33

Town II 92 1 93

Town III 220 5 225

Uswetakeyiyawa 79 5 84

Total 1,172 97 1,269

(Source: DFAR, 2012 a)

1.5 Fishing gear and methods

A variety of fishing gears and methods numbering over 30 are reported from Negombo lagoon,

with 08 main types, all targeting shrimp except for gillnets and the hand lines. Traditional fishing

methods include the cast net, stake net, Katta, brush pile, Kadippu dela, angling, crab pots, scoop

net, Karak gediya, Iratta, fish krall, Kemana and dip net. Other more modern methods include

the Gokran dela, hand trawl, drift gillnet, trammel net and lagoon seine (Gawana dela) Most of

the fishing methods are used in the basin segment of the lagoon. While some gears are used by

only a handful of fishers, the same gear or gears that are very similar in construction and

operation are given different names in different parts of the lagoon.

The following main fishing gear and methods are currently used in the lagoon.

1. Trammel net (Disco net) 12. Crab net

2. Stake net (Kattu dela) 13. Dip net

3. Cast net (Visi dela) 14. Katta

4. Push net (Thallu dela) 15. Fish kraal (Ja kottu)

5. Drive-in-net (Gok ran dela) 16. Kotu dela

6. Trap net (Kudu dela) 17. Scoop net (Athanguwa)

7. Brush pile (Mas athu) 18. Manda

8. Lagoon seine (Gawana dela) 19. Mada mirikeema

9. Kadippu dela 20. Crab traps (Kakulu thattiya)

10. Cover pot (Karakgediya) 21. Haras dela

11. Rod & line /hand line 22. Kemana

23. Iratta

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Although the use of push nets (Thallu dela) has been banned under the Negombo Lagoon

Fishery Management Area Regulations of 1998, push nets are still operated in the lagoon

because of weak awareness of fishers on the law and weak enforcement of regulations.

1.6 Fish production

In Sri Lanka, statistics on fish production are not reported separately for estuaries and lagoons.

These are incorporated with catch data of coastal marine fisheries. For this reason, no separate

annual catch data and information is available on Negombo lagoon fish production.

A study conducted during 1997 (Sanders et al, 2000) estimated the total production from

Negombo lagoon at 1,657 MT, comprising of 613 MT shrimp and 1,044 MT of fish. The total

catch from Negombo lagoon in 2010 as estimated by the district fisheries office, Negombo is

given in Table 4. This catch of 1,385.6 MT is less than the total catch of 1,657 MT reported

during the 1997 study.

Table 4: Fish catch from Negombo lagoon by FI division, 2010

FI division Estimated

production (kg)

Duwa 95,650

Town I 23,400

Town II 60,000

Town III 720,000

Pitipana 77,760

Aluthkuruwa 9,750

Kapungoda 240,000

Uswetakeyiyawa 78,000

Ja-Ela 81,000

Total 1,385,560

(Source: District Fisheries Office, Negombo)

Fish production estimates made during the 2011 fisheries frame survey for all major fisheries

conducted in Negombo lagoon are given in Table 5. In the case of boats fishing part-time in the

lagoon, only 50% of the estimated annual catch has been considered.

Although production data from some fisheries are limited to a few boats and data from some

other minor fisheries are unavailable, the estimated total annual catch of 1,253 MT from the

major fisheries and cast net and brush pile fisheries shows a continued decline in lagoon fish

production in recent years.

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Table 5: Estimated fish production from major fisheries in Negombo lagoon, 2011

Fishery Number of

boats

Annual catch

/boat (kg)

Total annual

catch (kg)

Trammel net fishery 735 576 406,368

Stake net fishery 114 4,884 556,776

Small-mesh gillnet fishery 45 3,120 134,160

Drag net fishery 28 2,616 70,632

Brush pile fishery 29 720 20,880

Bottom-set gillnet fishery 12 1,452 16,698

Gokran del fishery 02 1,848 3,696

Fyke net fishery 04 1,236 4,944

Cast net fishery 81 fishers 486 39,366

1,253,520

2. Status of the Fishery

2.1 Assessments of relevant fish stocks

There are no assessments of the stock size of fish resources (specific shrimp and/or finfish

species or species groups) for the Negombo lagoon. The study conducted by Sanders et al,

(2000) under an FAO/UNDP project in 1997-98 used mathematical models to determine the

effect of changes in fishing effort in some of the major fisheries in respect of other fisheries

conducted in the estuary.

This study showed that if stake net fishing was doubled, the production from stake nets would

increase from 294 to 486 MT. However, this would cause a minor decrease in the production

from the trawl fisheries conducted in the coastal waters outside the estuary (from 305 to 272 MT

for motorized trawlers and from 194 to 176 MT for non-motorized trawlers). However, the study

concluded that there was very little scope for increasing stake nets as suitable sites at the

entrance to the lagoon for stake net fishing were already utilized. Reducing stake net fishing

would only result in a minor increase in catches for the trawlers, indicating that there was no

justification for a reduction in the stake net fishery.

A doubling of trammel net fishing would increase trammel net catches from 1,050 to 1,448 MT,

accompanied by a considerable reduction in the daily catch of individual trammel net fishers –

from the present 4.6 kg/net to 3.2 kg/net. Such an increase in trammel net fishing would also

impact on other fisheries. Catches from the stake net fishery would go down from 294 to 288 MT

and from 89 to 61 MT for the cast net fishery. The above study has concluded that even during

the late 1990’s there was very little opportunity to increase either catches or employment. Any

increase would be associated with reduced catches and income to individual fishers.

2.2 Socio-economic status of fishers

The study conducted by Sanders et al, (2000) during 1997-1998 also revealed low fishing costs

for all gear types and that the monthly remuneration to fishers was surprisingly similar across

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gear types. The estimated remuneration for boat owner/fishers as average monthly values was

SLR 6,345 for cast nets, SLR 5,523 for brush piles, SLR 5,619 for trammel nets, SLR 7,108 for

lagoon seines and SLR 10,160 for stake nets. In the stake net fishery, remuneration per crew was

estimated at SLR 5,316, equivalent to 33.3% share of the net profit. It was SLR 4,986 per crew

in the lagoon seine fishery, based on a 40% share.

The mean total investment in stake net fishing during 2005 was estimated at SLR 29,176 (canoe,

fishing gear and accessories), while the annual financial cost of a fishing unit was estimated at

SLR 58,614. The net return for a craft owner was estimated at SLR 98,000 /annum, which was

38% of the total family income of SLR 259,760 per year.

3 Ecological and environmental status of the Lagoon

3.1 Ecological importance of Negombo lagoon

Negombo lagoon and its associated wetland, including other important habitats associated with

the lagoon such as mangrove and sea grass beds provides an array of ecosystem services to the

communities living around the lagoon. The lagoon itself is a highly productive ecosystem and

was estimated to support a fishery with an annual value exceeding Rs. 100 million (CEA, 2004).

The lagoon also serves as a shrimp nursery and a nutrient source for the coastal sea. The coastal

shrimp fishery for which the lagoon serves as a nursery, and the small pelagic fishery entrained

by nutrients released from the lagoon have an estimated annual value of about Rs. 100 million.

Together, about 6,000 small-scale fishers obtain their primary income from the lagoon and the

linked coastal fishery. About 20 000 people are directly or indirectly dependent on the lagoon

resources for their livelihoods.

The inter-tidal mangrove vegetation and the submerged sea grasses provide critical nursery

habitat for fishery resources and enrich bio-diversity of the lagoon. The economic value of the

fish breeding function of mangrove forests in Sri Lanka was estimated at US$ 218 per hectare

per year, while the total economic value of mangrove was estimated at US 1,229 per hectare

per year (Batagoda, 2003). On this basis, the fishery value of 253 ha of mangrove is estimated at

US $ 55,154 and the total economic value at US $ 310,937. The bio-diversity of Negombo

lagoon is further enriched by sea grass beds spread over about one fifth of the lagoon bed.

Jayakody (1996) has reported that sea grass cover approximately 684 ha or 22% of the estuary

area.

3.2 Environmental issues

3.2.1 Waste disposal

The high population density in Negombo, fairly high concentration of industries around

Negombo lagoon and fishing and fishery related activities have combined to make heavy

demands on Negombo lagoon and its environment. The Negombo lagoon is polluted by faecal

pollution, visual pollution, nutrient enrichment (eutrophication), organic and heavy metal

pollution and oil pollution.

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The Central Environment Authority has estimated that in early 1990s, about 250 kg/day of raw

faeces was discharged from the channel segment into Negombo lagoon, resulting in an annual

total load exceeding 90 MT (CEA, 1994). More than 2,000 houses in the islands and on the west

bank of the lagoon were reported to discharge septic waste into the lagoon. One reason for the

large number of houses without sanitary facilities is the high number of encroachments. By 2005,

a total of 943 houses have been built encroaching onto the lagoon water area and most of these

were in the channel segment of the islands. The very high levels of faecal coliforms indicate that

raw sewage is in contact with lagoon waters, and this is a potential hazard to flora and fauna,

including humans.

Visual pollution is mainly due to solid waste thrown into the lagoon. Indiscriminate dumping of

solid waste is a major environmental concern in Negombo lagoon. It serves as a sink for both

municipal and domestic waste for the urban areas lying contiguous with it, and principally

Negombo Town. When water level rises during high tide, the solid waste dumped in the

backyards of houses is carried away with the tidal flow and deposited particularly in the

mangrove islands located close to the lagoon mouth.

Municipal sewage, fertilizer runoff and industrial effluents or wastewaters carried into the lagoon

by riverine flow usually contain high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus that can stimulate

eutrophication and algal blooms. Tourist sector development activities and squatter settlements

along the shoreline also contribute significantly to the nutrient budget. Eutrophication has

adversely affected the health of the lagoon ecosystem, stimulating algal growth, declining bio-

diversity and changes in water quality. Algal bloom die offs which can rapidly reduce oxygen

levels can be a cause of sudden fish and aquatic fauna mortalities.

Organic pollution is generally due to municipal waste, industrial and domestic wastewaters.

Toxic components are mainly from industrial and fertilizer run off. Oil pollution in Negombo

lagoon is primarily due to the anchorage of fishing boats in and around the estuary mouth.

3.2.2 Land filling and sedimentation

Land filling for encroachment, building of new piers, jetties and bridges that restrict water flow

and promote siltation and deposition of garbage has resulted in the reduction of the effective

water area of Negombo lagoon by 791 ha between 1956 and 1981 (CEA,1994). Using Google

Earth maps, the RFLP in 2012 estimated the Negombo lagoon water area to be 3,100.2 ha

indicating a further reduction of approximately 64 ha in recent years. Land filling has increased

the rate of sedimentation, which is a severe problem in the lagoon. The sediment transport

relationships suggest entrapment of 50,000 m3 of sediment within the lagoon every year,

resulting in a decrease in lagoon depth of about 1.5 mm annually (CEA, 1994).

3.2.3 Adverse environmental impacts from fishing activities

Negombo lagoon is cluttered with hundreds of motorized fishing boats, polluting it and

endangering the once rich lagoon fishery. Negombo does not have a fisheries harbor, nor is there

a fully fledged anchorage for marine fishing vessels, particularly the so called offshore ‘multi-

day’ boats of 10-15 m in length overall (LOA). In early 2000, around 100 offshore boats were

estimated to have been anchored within the estuary at any one time. Many of these boats have

become permanent features that are anchored year round between the main lagoon mouth at

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Duwa and the Pitipana landing centre (Lellama) near the bridge and inside the lagoon opposite

Kuttiduwa. These sections of the lagoon banks are also cluttered with a number of temporary

wooden jetties used for unloading fish - over 60 such jetties have been constructed, most without

any approval. Nearly 300 sea going fibre reinforced plastic (OFRP) boats powered by outboard

motor engines also anchor along the lagoon banks when not at sea fishing.

In addition, there are various physical structures (boat building and repair yards, slipways, fuel

stations, ice plant) along the basin shoreline.

The drainage of bilge water and waste oil from the OFRP boats as well as multi-day boats cause

pollution of the lagoon. During a study conducted under the Ministry of Forestry and

Environment in 1998, it was estimated that 40,000 litres of waste oil from motorized boats and

13,000 litres of oil from service stations are discharged into the lagoon annually (SDC, 1998).

Fish caught in some areas of the lagoon are reported to be tainted with kerosene and unfit for

human consumption.

There are several places around the lagoon (particularly Pitipana and Duwa area) used for

processing fish for ‘dried’ fish production and waste from this is dumped into the lagoon,

polluting it.

Crab fattening involves keeping freshly moulted mud crabs, (Scylla serrata) in captivity near

lagoon/estuarine mouths and providing them with supplementary feed such as trash fish and fish

offal until they reach a marketable size. This economic activity began in Negombo lagoon in

1999 and there were 22 farms operating 159 crab pens by 2003. According to the Extension

Officer of National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), currently there are 14 crab

pens operated by two families and 35 sea bass pens operated by 11 families. Investigations have

revealed deteriorating water quality due to crab fattening and it is necessary to estimate the

carrying capacity of the lagoon for crab fattening and other pen/cage culture activities to

continue as livelihood activities of the fisher community.

3.2.4 Destruction of mangrove and sea grass beds

Mangrove covers the narrow inter-tidal areas on the fringes of the lagoon, at a width not

exceeding 100 m. Most of the mangroves in Negombo lagoon are confined to about 11 islets

close to its northern end. The floristic composition of the true mangrove in the lagoon includes

eleven common species. In the early 1990s, the total area of mangrove in the lagoon was

estimated at 350 ha. Over a period of 10 years (1981 -1992), the extent of mangal or true

mangrove in the lagoon had decreased by about 30 ha, approximately 10% of the total area

(Pahalawattaarachchi, 1995). According to more recent estimates (Sewalanka, 2011), the current

total area of mangrove around the lagoon is approximately 253 ha. Indiscriminate land

reclamation for housing and industrial development has led to the reduction of mangrove cover.

Mangroves along the sea side (western) boundary of the lagoon have been most vulnerable, as

the uncertainty of the lagoon boundaries and ownership of mangrove land has allowed land

owners to claim mangrove forest as their own, for clearing to initiate other development

activities.

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In 2002, five mangrove islands (approximately 50 ha) in the northern part of the lagoon

(Munnakkare) were declared as conservation forests under the Forest Ordinance. A zoning plan

prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has been adopted by the

Forest Department for implementation and it includes a Preservation zone (for education /

research); a Conservation zone (for collection of branches for firewood/ twigs and sticks for

brush piles/ bark for tannin / fruits and tourism); a Utility zone (timber production/fire wood

production (charcoal)/ collection of branches for firewood/ twigs and sticks for brush piles/ bark

for tannin and fruits) and a Non-mangrove zone (traditional fishing, tourism and sand mining).

Nearly 10 ha of mangrove area are being used for educational and research purposes in the

Kadolkele by NARA.

Sea grass beds cover approximately 684 ha or 22% of the estuary area. The width of the sea

grass beds is reported to vary from about 200 m to 2,000 m. Seven out of the 15 sea grass species

recorded from Sri Lanka are reported to occur in Negombo lagoon – Halophila beccarii, H.

minor, H. ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii, Potamogeton pectinatus, Halodule pinifolia and Rupia

maritima.

Pahalawattaarachchi and Siriwardene (2003) have reported that, since the advent of shrimp

farming into Negombo area in the mid-1980s, approximately 20% of the sea grass cover in

Negombo lagoon has been lost due to pollution from shrimp farming and conversion of wetlands

for other development. The use of some fishing gear such as the drag net, push net and trawl on

sea grass beds cause serious physical damage to the sea grass beds. Very serious destruction of

sea grass beds results from digging polychaete worms which are commonly used as a feed in

shrimp hatcheries located around the lagoon.

4. Co-management and legal provisions

4.1 Co-management

Co-management in fisheries allows fishers to fully participate in a shared decision making

process with fisheries agencies for the sustainable management of fisheries resources. It focuses

on establishing and empowering local level institutions with minor support from the government

throughout the establishment and empowering process. In addition to focusing on establishing

and empowering local level institutions, it involves the process of establishing partnership

arrangements between government and the local community and resource users.

Co-management brings together relevant levels of government and the users in pursuing a

common set of goals to improve resources conditions and socio-economic conditions of the

community. It allows the community to develop a management strategy with high probability of

meeting local needs and conditions and is more legitimate in their eyes because the community

members understand their problems, needs and opportunities better than outsiders do.

In integrating environment conservation into fisheries management, there would be a need to

bring in other stakeholder agencies mandated with natural resources management and

environment conservation into the co-management process and partnerships.

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4.2 Existing legislation affecting Negombo lagoon fisheries

A summary of information on who is legally responsible for managing the fishery, legal

obligations that needs to be met, institutional arrangements and regulations and fisheries laws

affecting the fishery in Negombo lagoon are presented below.

Under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996, including all the amendments

made subsequently, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) has the overall

mandate for the management, regulation, conservation and development of fisheries and aquatic

resources in Sri Lanka. The following regulations, made under the provisions of the Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 provide for registration of fishing boats and fishers,

licensing of fishing operations and establishment of Fisheries Committees and other institutional

arrangements for collaborative management of fisheries.

The Registration of Fishing Boats Regulations of 1980 promulgated under the Fisheries

Ordinance and amended in 1997 and 2006 under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act

No. 2 of 1996 require that every person operating or using a fishing boat in Sri Lankan

waters should obtain a certificate of registration in respect of his/her boat from the

Director General, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or an authorized officer.

The Fishing Operations Regulations, 1996 published in the Government Gazette

Extraordinary No. 948/25 dated 07th

November 1996 and amended in April 2005 require

every person conducting fishing operations in the sea, estuaries or coastal lagoons of Sri

Lanka to obtain a Fishing Operations License from the Director General, Department of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or an authorized officer.

The Fisheries Committee Regulations, 1997 published in the Government Gazette

Extraordinary of 25th

April 1997 provided for the establishment of Fisheries Committees

in a fisheries management area.

The following 10 Fisheries Committees have been established for Negombo lagoon.

Name of Fisheries Committee Registration number

1 Kattudel Committee – Wella Weediya, Maha

Weediya, Duwa, Pitipana Weediya

Reg. No. DFAR/F. Com./NL./1

2 City II Committee – Kurana, Kadol Kelle,

Thaladuwa


3 City III Committee – Mankuliya,

Munnakkaraya, Siriwardena Place


4 Pitipana North, Meda Pitipana Committee Reg. No. DFAR/F. Com./NL./4

5 Pitipana South Committee Reg. No. DFAR/F. Com./NL./5

6 Aluthkuruwa, Basiyawatta, Thalahena

Committee


7 Dungalpitiya, Kepungoda, Settapaduwa

Committee


16

Name of Fisheries Committee Registration number

8 Dandugama, Tudella, Wewala, Kala Eliya,

Delathura, Leenuswella Committee


9 Keendigoda, Ambalanmulla, Liyanagemulla,

Katunayake, Kurana-Katunayake Committee


10 Serakkuwa, Elenegoda, Bopitiya, Pamunugama

Committee

Reg. No. DFAR/F.

Com./NL./10

The Negombo Lagoon Fisheries Management Authority, composed of representatives

from the 10 Fisheries Committees was established under a Government Gazette

notification in November 1999.

The Fisheries (Register) Regulations, 1997 published in the Government Gazette

Extraordinary of 25th

April 1997 require that every fisher (resident or migrant), conducting

fishing operations in a fisheries management area shall get him/herself included in the

Register of Fishers maintained and regularly updated by the fisheries officials of the area.

The Negombo Lagoon Fishery Management Area Regulations of 1998 were published

in the Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 1038/16 dated 30th

July 1998. According to

these regulations:

- Fishing operations licenses issued under the provisions of Fishing Operations Regulations,

1996 shall not be valid unless these licenses are endorsed for fishing within the Negombo

Lagoon Fishery Management Area;

- Use of trawl net, push net, moxi net, gill net or trammel net on coral reefs and rocks and

digging for polychaete worms has been banned;

- Trammel nets can be operated only from 18.00 hours to 06.00 hours and the length of a

trammel net should not exceed 600 m;

- All fishing operations shall be conducted 150 m away from the shores of the lagoon (and the

islands contained within), except for stake net (Kattu dela), cast net (Visi dela), crab traps

(Kakulu athanguwa), small hand held shrimp nets (Malissan athanguwa), fishing rods/hand

lines (Bili piththa/ath yotha), fish trap (Karakgediya) and eel traps (Irate/kemana).

- If a fisher does not remain at the site of fishing operation with his/her net, he/she is required to

display his/her name and license number on the floats at 50 m intervals, in letters not less than

2” in height and 1½” in width.

- Operators of brush piles (mas athu), log fish aggregation devices (Katta) and fish kraals (Ja-

kottu) are required to display their names and license numbers in letters not less than 2” in

height and 1½” in width, painted on a board and fixed in a manner that will provide for easy

recognition.

17

In the above regulations, the Negombo Lagoon Fishery Management Area is defined on the

seaward side by an imaginary straight line drawn between Kutti Duwa and Duwa Point and

within the lagoon to the high tide level, and including the mouths of streams and rivers flowing

into the lagoon.

The schedules of survey plans of land surrounding the Negombo lagoon have been published in

the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1415/12 dated 18th

October2005.

4.3 Legal and institutional provisions for co-management in Negombo lagoon fisheries

The existing legal and institutional arrangements related to fisheries in Negombo lagoon are not

adequate to support ecosystem based fisheries co-management. The Fisheries Committees and

the Negombo Lagoon Fisheries Management Authority established for the lagoon lacks legal

powers and other stakeholders are also excluded, hampering proper management of the lagoon.

To overcome these limitations, the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme has assisted in

amending the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 to bring in more stakeholders

and women participation into the co-management process.

The Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee of Negombo lagoon was established

under Section 31A (1) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act, No 2

of 2013, published in the Government Gazette of --------1. The Fisheries Management

Coordinating Committee of Negombo lagoon consists of ex-officio members and/or

nominees of the following stakeholder agencies.

Position Location and institution

1 District Secretary Gampaha

2 Divisional Secretary Negombo

3 Divisional Secretary Ja-Ela

4 Divisional Secretary Wattala

5 Divisional Secretary Katana

6 Mayor Negombo Municipal Council

7 Chairman Ja-Ela Pradeshiya Sabha

8 Chairman Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha

9 Chairman Katunayake-Seeduwa Urban Council

10 Chairman Divisional Development Committee, Ja-Ela

11 Chairman Divisional Development Committee, Katana

12 Chairman Divisional Development Committee, Negombo

13 Chairman Divisional Development Committee, Wattala

14 Assistant Director District Fisheries Office, Negombo

15 Director of Fisheries Northwest Provincial Council

16 Nominated member Fisheries Committee No.1


1 When this version of the “Fisheries development and management plan of Negombo lagoon” was drafted, the

establishment of the Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee of Negombo lagoon had yet to be officially gazetted.

18

Position Location and institution









26 Nominated member National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency

27 Nominated member Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management

Department

28 Nominated member National Aquaculture Development Authority

29 Nominated member Central Environment Authority

30 Nominated member Forest Department

31 Nominated member Department of Wildlife

32 Nominated member Marine Environment Protection Authority

33 Nominated member Urban Development Authority

34 Nominated member Ministry of Lands

35 Nominated member Tourism Development Authority

36 Nominated member Low Land Reclamation and Development Board

37 Nominated member Sri Lanka Police

38 Nominated member Sri Lanka Navy

In addition, a representative from each of the following associations and community based

organizations working with fishing communities of Negombo lagoon have been appointed as

members of the Negombo lagoon Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee.

1. President, District Fisheries Association, Negombo

2. President, “Liya Saviya” Kantha Karya Sanvidanaya, Thalahena, Negombo,

Section 31B (1) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 2013

requires a Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee constituted for a Fishery

Management Area to submit to the Director General, Department of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources a fishery development and management plan for the area.

According to Section 31B (2) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act,

No. 2 of 2013, a Fishery Development and Management Plan prepared by a Fisheries

Management Coordinating Committee may contain proposals for:

- the division of the Fishery Management Area (FMA) into zones for particular

uses;

- prohibition or regulation of the use of particular types of fishing gear or equipment for

the taking of fish and aquatic resources in the FMA;

- prohibition of the taking of particular species of fish or aquatic resources in the FMA;

- declaration of closed seasons for fishing in particular parts of the FMA or for particular

19

species of fish in the FMA;

- regulating the times at which fish or aquatic resources may be taken in the FMA;

- preservation of locations of scenic beauty or of cultural or ecological significance in the

FMA;

- improvement of the sustainability of fish and other aquatic resources in the FMA;

- research, post-harvest and marketing and development aspects related to the fishery;

- monitoring, compliance and surveillance and, consultation and review.

Under Section 31B (3) of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act, No. 2

of 2013, the Director General is required to make modifications if any, to the plan and

submit the plan to the Minister for his or her approval, within sixty days of a management

plan being submitted to it by a Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee.

Under Section 31B (4), the Minister may approve a plan within sixty days of it being

submitted to him or her and shall cause the plan to be published in the Gazette.

Under Section 31B (5), it shall be the duty of the Minister to give effect to the provisions

of the plan by making appropriate regulations under Section 61 and by the publication of

appropriate Notices under Section 34.

20

Negombo lagoon Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee – Structure & functions

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department

Local councils

Mayor / Negombo Municipal Council

Chairmen / Pradeshiya Sabha

Chairmen/Divisional Development Committees

State agency representation

Assistant Director / District Fisheries Office, Negombo

Director of Fisheries / Western Provincial Council

National Aquatic Resources Research and Development

Agency representative

Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management

Department representative

National Aquaculture Development Authority

representative

Central Environment Authority representative

Forest Department representative

Marine Environment Protection Authority representative

Urban Development Authority representative

Ministry of Lands representative

Tourism Development Authority representative

Low Land Reclamation and Development Board

representative

Sri Lanka Police & Navy representatives

CBOs & NGOs

Negombo Lagoon Fisheries Management Authority

Fisheries Committees

District Fisheries Association

“Liya Saviya” Kantha Karya Sanvidanaya

Negombo Lagoon Fisheries Management

Coordinating Committee

Local administration

District Secretary

Divisional Secretaries

Responsibility

Coordinate and assist the

work of the Fisheries

Management Coordinating

Committee

Overall responsibility to

implement the fishery

management plan

Responsibilities

Preparation of a Fisheries

Development & Management

Plan for Negombo lagoon

Seek approval for the Plan

and support implementation

Monitoring implementation

of the Plan

Provide a forum for

discussing issues related to

Negombo lagoon and

facilitate solutions through

concerned authorities

21

5: Management issues

Management issues in terms of social, biological and environmental problems associated with

the fishers and the fishery, causes for such problems and possible solutions discussed during

stakeholder consultations are presented in Table 6 below:

Table 6: Analysis of management issues and proposed solutions for Negombo lagoon

fisheries

Problem Cause/s Solution/s

Lack of management

under existing

institutional

arrangements

- Fisheries Committees inactive

and lack coordination

- Inadequate powers for

Fisheries Management

Authority

- Lack of enforcement of

management regulations

- Revive and strengthen Fisheries

Committees

- Establish suitable institutional

mechanism for wider stakeholder

participation in management

- DFAR to take lead role and show more

commitment and responsibility towards

lagoon fisheries management

- Establish a functional monitoring,

surveillance and enforcement mechanism

Depletion of fishery

resources

- Open access leading to

increased fishing effort

- Use of destructive fishing

practices

- Destruction of

habitat/environment

- Lack of management

- Un-coordinated provision of

craft and gear by different

organizations

- Limit the number of fishers and control

access to who can fish in the lagoon

- Strengthen monitoring, surveillance and

enforcement capability

- Establish institutional mechanism

enabling coordination between relevant

agencies to minimise damage to lagoon

environment

- Develop and implement a

comprehensive collaborative fisheries

management plan

Decreasing income

from fishing and

indebtedness

- High fishing pressure and low

catches from lagoon fishing

- Destruction and pollution of

the lagoon ecosystem adversely

impacting on fish resources

- Prepare and implement an ecosystem

based fisheries management plan

- Introduce alternative livelihoods for

fishers and fishing communities

- Educate people on how to manage their

22


income

- Introduce new methods to manage

earnings from fishing (new investments,

savings, pension schemes, etc.)

Habitat destruction

- Illegal encroachment into the

lagoon

- Destruction of mangroves for

aquaculture and other

development activities

- Destruction of sea grass beds

due to use of harmful and

prohibited fishing methods and

fishing gear

- Sedimentation

- Pollution of lagoon water due

to dumping of industrial and

domestic waste and sewage

disposal

- Increasing use of motorized

boats in the lagoon for tourism

- Establish lagoon boundaries to

minimize illegal encroachment

- Prepare and implement a mangrove

management plan for the lagoon with

community participation

- Increasing inspection programmes by

DFAR (make joint inspections with

Police and SL Navy)

- Fine fishers who use prohibited fishing

method or cancel their fishing license

- NGO and government support to

households to install toilet and sewage

systems to minimize discharge of raw

sewage into the lagoon

Control use of motorized boats and

promote ecotourism activities

Lack of data &

information

for management

decisions

- Lack of catch and effort data

collection of the lagoon fishery

- Lack of

research/investigations on

fishery resources and lagoon

ecosystem

- Introduce a fisheries data collection

system for the lagoon

- Carry out research on major fish and

crustacean varieties (biology, population

studies, etc.) and share results

/information with concerned institutions

- Carry out periodic research/

investigations on the status of the

ecosystem/environment

- Establish close integration (horizontal

and vertical) between DFAR, NARA,

NAQDA, etc.

23


Inadequate

compliance

- Violation of rules and

regulations

- Lack of enforcement by

concerned authorities

- Lack of knowledge and

awareness

- Conduct awareness programmes for

fishers and other stakeholders

(on present status, regulations,

management plans, etc.), through posters,

advertisements, etc.

- Conduct workshops, meetings and hold

discussions with fishing community

including school children

- Fishers and other stakeholders to be

organized to comply with a voluntary

code of conduct

- Strengthen enforcement capability and

enforcement activities

6. Objectives and Performance Indicators

The objectives of the plan listed below are what the stakeholders want to achieve by having the

fishery managed. These are listed under biological, social, economic and environmental. In view

of the multi-species nature of the resource and in the absence of data/information on stock

structure of major species, the biological objective has been kept relatively simple.

Performance Indicators relying on data that can be simply and easily obtained have been selected

against each of the objectives (Table 7).

The trigger points or reference points listed against each objective and indicator provide the

criteria that define the stage at which action needs to be taken when changes occur in the fishery.

The Coordinating Committee shall decide what action needs to be taken when the trigger point is

reached. For example, when the annual catch falls by more than 10%, the Coordinating

Committee can restrict either the number of fishers or fishing effort (no. boats and/or the number

of gear units)

Precautionary approaches as recommended in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible

Fisheries and the FAO promoted Ecosystems Approach to Fisheries Management shall be used

during the initial implementation phase of the fishery management plan because the fishery is

based on mixed species and data poor.

Table 7: Objectives and Performance Indicators

Objectives of the Plan Performance Indicator Trigger point

Biological –

Maintain catch levels at +/-

10% of present level

- Annual production

- Total catch falling by more

than 10% over the previous

year –

24

Objectives of the Plan Performance Indicator Trigger point

- Size of species harvested

- Proportion of juveniles or

under-sized fish in catches

- Size of species harvested

decreased by an agreed

proportion

- Increased proportion of

juveniles or under-sized fish in

catches

Social –

Employment opportunities in

fishing maintained at current

levels

- Number of fishers fishing

full time in the lagoon

- Number of full time fishers

fall below an agreed

proportion

Economic –

Maintain income levels

within 10% of present level

Reduction of indebtedness

of fishers

- Average annual income of

fishers

- Number of fishers in debt

- Income from fishing fallen

by more than 10% over the

previous year

- Number of fishers in debt

has increased by more than

10% over the previous year

Environmental –

Protection of lagoon

ecosystem

- Current extent of lagoon,

mangrove, sea grass, etc.

- Level of pollution

- Frequency of algal bloom die

offs and fish deaths

- Extent of lagoon area,

mangroves, sea grass

decreased by more than 10%

over the previous year

- Level of pollution increased

by an more than 10% over the

previous year

Governance –

Increased participation of

fishers in management

- Number of fishers in

Committees2

- Attendance at meetings

- Attendance at management

meetings decreased by an

agreed proportion

7. Control Mechanisms (Management measures)

7.1 Access arrangements

Only members of Fisheries Committees issued with Fishing Operations Licenses will be allowed

to fish in the lagoon. At this stage fishers believe it is too early to set quotas for different gear

types and vessels.

2 Under the Fisheries Act, Fisheries Committees are formed only by those actively engaged in catching fish –

whether men or women.

25

The Fishing Operations Licenses issued under the provisions of the Fishing Operations

Regulations of 1996, published in the Government Gazette Extraordinary No. 948/25 of 07th

November 1996 shall not be valid within the Negombo lagoon fishery management area unless

these licenses are endorsed by the District Fisheries Office, Negombo with the condition “Valid

for Negombo Lagoon Fishery Management Area”.

Fisheries Committees in consultation with the District Fisheries Office shall decide who should

be given a License, leaving out those who are permanently employed in other sectors, except for

those who have traditional fishing rights to the stake net fishery. Endorsement by a majority of

the general membership of a Fisheries Committee is required before a License can be issued to a

person given membership of any Fisheries Committee.

A membership card will be issued to every member of a Fisheries Committee provided with a

Fishing Operations License.

All Fisheries Committees will cooperate with the relevant fisheries officials to prepare and

annually update a Register of Fishers in compliance with the Fisheries (Register) Regulations,

1997.

All fishing crafts operating in the lagoon will be registered by the District Fisheries office,

Negombo and issued with registration certificates.

7.2 Input controls

No motorized crafts are allowed to fish in Negombo lagoon.

The use of following fishing gear and methods are strictly banned in Negombo lagoon.

- Push net

- Fyke net (Kudu dela)

- Mada mirikeema.

Fishing operations within the Negombo lagoon shall be conducted according to the

following time schedules:

- Trammel nets from 18.00 hours to 08.00 hours

- Cast nets from 06.00 hours to 13.00 hours

- No fishing using any gear type during 13.00 hours to 18.00 hours in the basin

segment of the lagoon. This time restriction will not be applicable to the

channel segment and estuary mouth.

The above mentioned time and area restrictions will not be applicable to crab fishing using

gillnets of stretched mesh size of 5½” and over.

26

7.3 Voluntary Code of conduct

Some of the input controls agreed by stakeholders that cannot be easily incorporated in the

legislation need to be included in a voluntary “Code of Conduct for Negombo lagoon fishery”, to

be agreed upon by the Fisheries Committees and other groups and associations representing

fishers and other stakeholders; pledging voluntary compliance by fishers to do the right thing

with no sanctions except social and moral obligations. These include the following:

If possible, desist from fishing on Sundays

If possible, desist from stake net fishing on Full Moon days

Desist from fishing on Good Friday, Christmas day, Wesak and Poson full

moon (Poya) days.

All sea going motorized boats that are anchored in the lagoon adhere to a

speed limit of 8-10 km/hour when entering and leaving the lagoon.

In consultation with the stake net fishers, demarcate an area for drag net

fishing in the northern part of the lagoon without obstructing the canals

8. Monitoring of the Fishery (data collection and analysis)

The District Fisheries Office, Negombo shall register and/or renew registration of all

fishers and craft and issue Fishing Operations Licenses to all members of Fisheries

Committees during the month of January every year. Craft registration and fishing

operation licensing are integrated into one document, with each fishing operation license

detailing the fishing gear types and the number allowed under the license.

Fish catch data collection: The current data collection system adopted by the

Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources does not allow adequate data collection

from lagoons and estuaries. The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Development, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA)

and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources shall jointly develop a fisheries

data collection system specifically for the lagoon, including new data collection forms

giving priority to lagoon fishing gear and species. The data collection system will also

mobilize Fisheries Committees and fishers to be actively involved in fisheries data

collection. Data analysis and reporting shall also be a joint responsibility of the National

Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency and the Department of Fisheries

and Aquatic Resources.

Periodic (once every three years) monitoring shall be conducted by the National Aquatic

Resources Research and Development Agency to assess the adverse

environmental/ecological impacts on the lagoon ecosystem from fishing as well as the

impact of other anthropological activities and natural phenomenon on Negombo lagoon

fisheries and fisher livelihoods.

27

9. Compliance (surveillance and enforcement)

A Sub-committee comprising of two members from the district fisheries office, ten

members representing the ten Fisheries Committees, one member each from the Forest

Department and the Department of Wildlife Conservation will coordinate and take

decisions regarding enforcement of regulations. The two members from the district

fisheries office and at least five members from Fisheries Committees and representatives

of the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife Conservation should be involved in

any decision taken by the Sub-committee.

Funds and facilities (boats, engines, capacity building, trainings, etc.) are needed to

operate and maintain a successful enforcement mechanism. There is a need to establish a

fund to meet expenses involved during surveillance and enforcement activities. Funds

should be requested from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Western

Provincial Council, District Development Council and Divisional Secretariat. At a later

stage, Fisheries Committees will also need to contribute to such a fund.

The Sri Lanka Police and the Sri Lanka Navy are represented in the Fisheries

Management Coordinating Committee of Negombo lagoon and they are expected to

assist the Sub-committee in enforcing the management regulations in the Plan.

10. Research and investigations

The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), through its

regional research centre in Kadolkele, Negombo is expected to coordinate all fisheries and

aquatic resources and environment related research in Negombo lagoon. As the implementation

of the fishery development and management plan needs to be based on sound legal and scientific

basis, a research plan needs to be prepared and implemented. The following research needs have

been identified by NARA and the fishing community as high priority.

Fishery related:

Assessment of fish and shellfish stocks and biological / population studies

Investigations to promote fisheries on under-utilized resources (e.g. oyster3);

Investigations on fish kills and jelly fish explosion in the southern part of the lagoon;

Investigations to assess feasibility of re-introducing the giant fresh water prawn

(Macrobrachium rosenbergii) which was abundant in the lagoon about 15 years back;

Investigations to assess feasibility of promoting brackish water culture; and,

Investigations on fishing gear used in the lagoon to identify and remove environmentally

harmful fishing gear and methods from the lagoon.

Environment/ecosystem related:

Study of changes in mangrove and sea grass beds (distribution, species composition and

abundance); Conduct research/investigations identified in the “Collaborative Plan for the

Conservation and Management of Mangrove associated with Negombo Lagoon”;

3 Without depuration, eating oysters may pose a human health risk because of the high coliform levels in parts of

the lagoon near human habitation.

28

Assess the pollution level of the lagoon ecosystem and identification of pollution sources;

Study the prime causes for sedimentation of the lagoon; and,

Rapid ecological assessment on fisheries, environment and socio economics.

11. Fisheries development

11.1 Infrastructure facilities

Provision of sheltered facilities at landing centres for net mending, boat repairs,

etc. The following sites have been identified on a priority basis:

01. Sethappaduwa Aliappu meda thotupola (central landing centre)

02. Sethappaduwa Aliappu uthuru thotupola (northern landing centre)

03. Dungalpitiya Kongahawatte thotupola (landing centre)

04. Basiyawatte Miguel Martin thotupola (landing centre)

05. Thalahena Senanayake thotupola (landing centre)

06. Pitipana South Mahawatta thotupola (landing centre)

07. Pitipana South Thelagahapara thotupola (landing centre)

08. Katunayake Kirillagahawatte thotupola (landing centre)

09. Katunayake Renda thotupola (landing centre)

10. Pamunugama – Domingu Kurunduwatta landing centre

11. Pamunugama – Arakku thotupola (landing centre)

12. Delatura – Lenuswella thotupola (landing centre)

13. Siriwardena Place/Munnakkara – Jalawagura thotupola (landing

centre)

14. Siriwardena Place/Munnakkara – Monakogama thotupola (landing

centre)

15. Kadolkele Jude thotupola (landing centre) near cemetery

16. Duwa Thotupola (landing centre) near Jayakody bungalow

17. Pitipana Street - Kannatri thotupola (landing centre)

Pre-schools for fishing communities

Renovation of the community centre used by the Negombo Lagoon Fisheries

Management Authority

11.2 Credit facilities

Establishment of a fund to provide revolving loan facilities through Fisheries

Committees.

11.3 Lagoon and ecosystem rehabilitation

Dredging of channels;

29

Establishment of lagoon boundaries; and,

Conservation of mangroves through a mangrove management plan.

12. Consultation and extension with stakeholders

• The Fisheries Committees shall meet once every month and minutes of the meetings will

be kept. The Fisheries Inspector of the area is expected to attend these monthly meetings.

• The Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee of Negombo lagoon shall meet once

in every four months or in case of an emergency, under a chair-person appointed by the

Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The Assistant

Director, District Fisheries Office, Negombo will act as the Secretary of the Coordinating

Committee and its Convener.

• The District Development Council, attended by the District Secretary, Gampaha and

representatives of the Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee of Negombo

lagoon will provide a forum for regular sensitizing of political leaders and senior

government officials of the area.

13. Plan monitoring and review

Performance indicators

Performance indicators are given in Table 7.

13.1 Monitoring of the Fishery Development and Management Plan

Meetings of the Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee should be held once every four

months to review the success/failure of management measures in meeting the objectives of the

Negombo lagoon Fishery Development and Management Plan and what further actions need to

be taken.

13.2 Monitoring protocols

Monitoring protocols established in the Action Plan are given in Tables 8, 9 and 10.

Action plan

Management goal - Sustainable utilization of lagoon fish resources.

Management measure – In the first instance, maintain current production in the absence of

reliable stock data and potential annual yields. Thereafter adjust fishing effort based on more

reliable estimates of annual potential yield.

30

Tasks and responsible agencies for following up on the action plan for sustainable utilization of

fish resources in Negombo lagoon is given in Table 8.

Table 8: Action Plan for sustainable utilization of fish resources in Negombo lagoon

Tasks Responsible for

implementation

Completion

date

Responsible for

checking

1 Review current status

of fishery

NARA

District Fisheries Office

End Dec.

2013

DG / NARA

DD ( Mgmt) / DFAR

2 Assess annual fish

potential of Negombo

lagoon

NARA

End Dec.

2013

DG / NARA

DD ( Mgmt) / DFAR

FMCC

3

Implement regular fish

catch monitoring

programme

NARA

District Fisheries Office /

Negombo

2013

onwards

DG / NARA

DD ( Mgmt) / DFAR


4 Enforce regulations on

fishing times, areas,

etc.


Negombo Lagoon


Authority /Fisheries

Committees

Police /Navy

Continuous

DD ( Mgmt) / DFAR

FMCC

5 Coordinate issue of

fishing boats and gear

through subsidies and

grants


Negombo Lagoon


Authority


Continuous

DD ( Mgmt) / DFAR

FMCC

* DD (Mgmt) - Deputy Director (Management Division); DG - Director General; DFAR – Department of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; MFARD – Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development;

NARA- National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency; FMCC- Fisheries Management

Coordinating Committee

Management goal - Maximize income of fishers engaged in Negombo lagoon fishing.

Management measure - Control fishing effort by restricting access to the fishery.

Table 9 lists the tasks and responsible agencies for following up on the action plan for

maximizing income of Negombo lagoon fishers.

31

Table 9: Action plan for maximizing income of fishers engaged in Negombo lagoon fishing


implementation

Completion

date

Responsible for

checking

1 Issue of Fishing

Operations Licenses

only to members of


District Fisheries

Offices / Negombo

Lagoon Fisheries

Management Authority

/ Fisheries Committees

Issue/renewal

in January

every year

DD ( Mgmt) /

DFAR

FMCC

2 Preparation of Register

of Fishers

District Fisheries

Office / Negombo

Update every

January

DD ( Mgmt) /

DFAR

3 Registration of all

lagoon fishing craft

District Fisheries

Office / Negombo

Issue/renewal

in January

every year

DD ( Mgmt) /

DFAR

FMCC

4 Strengthen monitoring,

control and surveillance

mechanism

DFAR

Negombo Lagoon


Authority / Fisheries

Committees

Continuous

DD ( Mgmt) /

DFAR

FMCC

5 Introduce alternative

livelihoods

Divisional Secretaries

Continuous

District Secretary/

FMCC

* DD (Mgmt) - Deputy Director (Management Division); DG - Director General; DFAR – Department of

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; FMCC- Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee

Management goal – Conservation of lagoon environment and bio-diversity.

Management measure – Control adverse environmental impacts.

The tasks and responsible agencies for following up on the action plan for conserving Negombo

lagoon environment and biodiversity are presented in Table 10.

Table 10: Action plan for conserving environment and biodiversity in Negombo lagoon


implementation

Completion

date

Responsible for

checking

1 Implementation of a

participatory

mangrove

management plan

Forest Dept. / CCD


Negombo Lagoon


Authority /FMCC

2013

onwards

DG/Forest Dept.

District Secretary

/Gampaha

32


implementation

Completion

date

Responsible for

checking


2 Establish lagoon

boundaries to

minimize illegal

encroachment

DFAR / CCD

District Secretariat

Divisional Secretariats

Survey Dept.

End Dec.

2012

District Secretary

/Gampaha

FMCC

3 Minimize pollution of

lagoon water due to

industrial pollutants

CEA, Negombo MC,

Pradeshiya Sabha, MEPA

Continuous

Divisional

Secretaries

FMCC


lagoon water due to

sewage disposal

CEA, Negombo MC,


Continuous

Divisional

Secretaries

FMCC


lagoon water due to

solid waste disposal

CEA, Negombo MC,


Continuous

Divisional

Secretaries

FMCC

6 Monitoring of lagoon

ecosystem

NARA,

MEPA

Continuous

District Secretary/

Divisional

Secretaries

FMCC

7 Develop and

implement an

ecotourism plan for

the lagoon minimizing

use of motorized boats

Tourism Dev. Authority,


Negombo Lagoon


Authority /FMCC

2013

onwards

District Secretary/

Divisional

Secretaries

8 Coordinate all

aquaculture activities

implemented under

NAQDA and Western

Provincial Council

NAQDA, Western Prov.

Council,

Continuous District Secretary/

Divisional

Secretaries

FMCC

9 Awareness creation of

stakeholders

DFAR/NARA/CCD/FD/CEA Continuous District Secretary/

Divisional

Secretaries

FMCC

CCD – Coast Conservation Department; CEA – Central Environment Authority; DFAR – Dept. Fisheries

and Aquatic Resources; FD- Forest Dept,; NAQDA – National Aquaculture Development Authority;

FMCC- Fisheries Management Coordinating Committee, MEPA-Marine Environment Protection Authority

33

14. Review and amendment of the Plan

The Negombo lagoon Fishery Development and Management Plan should be reviewed/improved

and updated every four years, based on the best available information from monitoring of the

fishery and research carried out by concerned agencies.

In the first instance, since the plan has been developed based on somewhat outdated secondary

data and adopting a precautionary approach, the first review can be done after two years, with the

consensus of all stakeholders.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, through the Fisheries Management

Coordinating Committee has the responsibility to arrange for the review and amendment of the

Plan.

References

Batagoda, B. M. S (2003). Economic valuation of alternative uses of Mangrove forests in Sri

Lanka – Research Paper –EECS.

CEA, 1994 – Conservation Management Plan – Muthurajawela Marsh & Negombo Lagoon,

Central Environmental Authority/Euroconsult.

CEA, 2004 – Participatory Fishery management Planning – Lessons learned during 12 years of

wetland work in Sri Lanka. Central Environment Authority / ARCADIS Euroconsult, Ministry of

Environment and Natural Resources, Colombo.

DFAR (2012 a). Report on Rapid fisheries frame survey of coastal and brackish water fisheries

in the fisheries district of Negombo. Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and

Southeast Asia (GCP/RAS/237/SPA): Field Project Document 2012/LKA/CM/01.

Jayakody, D. S. 1996 - Traditional lagoon fisheries in Negombo. BOBP/REP/72: 98-103.

Pahalawattaarachchi, V. 1995 – Litter Production Decomposition in the Mangrove Ecosystem in

the Negombo Lagoon. M. Phil Thesis, University of Kelaniya.

Pahalawattaarachchi, V. and P. P. G. N. S. Siriwardene, 2003- Effect of Shrimp farm effluents

on Sea grass beds in Negombo Lagoon. Proceedings of 1st Scientific Sessions on Inland Aquatic

Resources and Aquaculture, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency,

Colombo 15, Sri Lanka, Jan. 2003

Sanders, M., A. Jayawardene and S. Ediriweera, 2000 – Preliminary assessment for the shrimp

fisheries of the Negombo lagoon (Sri Lanka), FAO Fisheries Technical Paper, No. 958, FAO,

Rome.

34

SDC, 1998 – Study on the Economic-Environmental Linkages of Lagoon and Near Shore

Coastal Fishing, Study conducted under the Environment Action I Project (EAIP), Ministry of

Forestry and Environment and World Bank (Unpublished).

Sewalanka, 2011 – Proposal for the preparation of a Mangrove Management Plan for Negombo

estuary, FAO Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme, Sri Lanka (Unpublished).

The Fisheries Development and Management Plan of Negombo lagoon provides a legal

framework for the implementation of fisheries resource management with a strong element

of environment conservation and a public statement of the intent of agreed actions by the

key stakeholders. The development of the Plan involved extensive consultations between

fishers, fisheries officials, local administrative officials and other stakeholder agencies

responsible for natural resources management and environment conservation. It identifies

what needs to be implemented to achieve sustainable fisheries resources management and

environment conservation in Negombo lagoon and persons/agencies responsible for each

specific action.

In the development of the Plan, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources was

supported by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (AECID)

through a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations trust‐fund

project, the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme (RFLP) for South and Southeast

Asia.

Besides financial and technical support, RFLP also provided logistical assistance for

consultation meetings as well as support for the printing and translation of the Plan into

Sinhalese.

The content of the Plan does not necessarily reflect the opinion of FAO, AECID or RFLP

35

Annex 1:

Task Force members involved in the preparation of Negombo lagoon Fishery Development

and Management Plan

Name Position Institution

J. J. Ratnasiri (Chairman of Task

Force)

District Secretary Gampaha

K. M. Shantha Kumara Muhandiram Divisional Secretary Negombo

A. K. R. Alawatte

W. M. A. P. B. Waninayake Divisional Secretary Ja-Ela

Chandima Dissanayake Divisional Secretary Wattala

K. G. H. H. R. Kiriella Divisional Secretary Katana

M. M. W. Ranjith Bandara Assistant Director District Fisheries Office, Negombo

Dhammika Liyanage Director of Fisheries Western Provincial Council

K. Sebastian Fernando President Fisheries Committee No.1

W. Anthony Sarath Ferando President Fisheries Committee No.2

K. Jude Remegius Fernando President Fisheries Committee No.3

M. Patrick Rosa President Fisheries Committee No.4

N. Joseph Anthony President Fisheries Committee No.5

B. John Christopher Dhariju President Fisheries Committee No.6

M. T. Joseph Ranjith Fernando President Fisheries Committee No.7

P. S. J. Priyantha Nonis President Fisheries Committee No.8

Suminda Manoj President Fisheries Committee No.9

K. C. F. Newton Gamini President Fisheries Committee No.10

Sunil Premaratne Fisheries Inspector Duwa

M. S. S. Kumara Fisheries Inspector Town I

Jude Perera Fisheries Inspector Town II

A. N. Abeyratne Fisheries Inspector Town III

B. T. A. Pushpakumara Fisheries Inspector Pitipana

M. M. T. U. K. Marasinghe Fisheries Inspector Kepungoda

A. A. S. Navaratne Fisheries Inspector Aluthkuruwa

G. A. P. S. Ganepala Fisheries Inspector Uswetakeyiyawa

M. D. S. Nilanthi Fisheries Inspector Ja-Ela

M. Gammanpila Research Officer NARA

M. M. T. Fernando Planning Assistant CCD

M. G. R. Tilakaratne Dist. Extension

Officer

NAQDA

B. W. S. Priyadharshani Snr. Env. Officer Central Environment Authority

K. A. D. U. S. Kalansuriya Div. Forest Officer Forest Department

A. P. K. T. Jayawardene Department of Wildlife

P. G. A. L. Kumara Mar. Env. Assistant Marine Env. Protection Authority

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