Jayantha Wijeyaratne Ph.D.

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Jayantha Wijeyaratne Ph.D. Vice-Chancellor and
Chair of Zoology University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka
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• Outline

• Introduction
• Shellfish production
• Policies
• Reasons for degradation
• Restoration efforts
• Conservation management

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• Production of Crustaceans has decreased since
  2003 due to disease outbreaks in culture systems.
  
• But the production of mollusks has increased
  mainly due to increasing demand

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• Shrimp - Wild caught and cultured
• Crabs - Wild caught
• - some are fattened in cages
• Lobsters - Wild caught
• Mollusks - Wild caught

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• Protection of environment is given due
  recognition in Sri Lanka.
• In the constitution of Sri Lanka also it is
  stated that the protection of the environment is
  the duty of every citizen.

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• Many Acts of Parliament dealing with
  environmental protection had been enacted.
• Some of them are directly relevant to protection
  of shellfish habitats.
• These are
• - National Environmental Act of 1980
• - Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act
• of 1996
•  

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Regulations

• Some fishing methods and gear are banned.
  (Trawling and dredging of the sea bed to collect
  chanks is prohibited)
• There is a minimum catchable size for chanks
  (Purchasing, exhibiting for sale, selling,
  transporting, exporting or keeping in possession
  of chanks less than 70 mm in diameter are
  prohibited.

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Regulations
Continued

• Closed seasons for catching of lobsters (From
  February to September catching of lobsters is
  prohibited)
• Minimum catchable size has been imposed for
  lobsters (for some species carapace length should
  not be less than 10 cm or tail length should not
  be less than14 cm).
• Catching lobsters carrying eggs is prohibited
• Catching lobsters in soft shell condition is also
  prohibited
• Removing eggs from lobsters is also prohibited.

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Regulations
Continued

• Major development projects needs environmental
  approval
• Environmental Impact Assessments have to be done.
• Environmental Protection Licenses have to be
  obtained.
• The standards for effluents have beengazetted.

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• Increased inflow of fresh water due to diversion
  of rivers for agricultural purposes has also
  destroyed oyster beds

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• Increased sedimentation due to
• deforestation
• agriculture in marginal lands
• sand mining
• has resulted in
• Blocking of water exchange channels
• Reduction of depth
• Leading to a reduction of recruitment of shrimp
  larvae

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Restoration efforts 

• Dredging of canals
• Replanting of mangroves
•  

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Conservation Management

• Conducting EIAs for major development projects
• Requirement of environmental protection licences
  for industries
• Stipulating standards for effluents
• Declaring closed seasons
• Stipulating minimum catchable sizes

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Conservation Management
Continued

• Banning some fishing methods
• Conducting community awareness programs
• By professional organizations
• Government organizations
• NGOs
• Implementation of management decisions with
  community participation

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Thank You!