National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (SLNPOA-IUU).

This National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (SLNPOA-IUU), divided into six Sections and two Annexes, contains the implementing measures to combat IUU fishing activities conducted by local fishing boats in Sri Lanka waters, waters of national jurisdictions of other coastal States, and high seas, and by foreign fishing vessels. It also contains port State measures that are under implementation against foreign fishing vessels engaged in IUU fishing in high seas and seek access to ports in Sri Lanka to land their catches. SLNPOA-IUU has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines given by the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (IPOA-IUU) adopted by the FAO. The fisheries industry of Sri Lanka contributes significantly to the nutrition, employment and food security, foreign exchange earnings, and government revenue of the country, and therefore its sustainability has become a primary concern in the country’s economic development.
Fisheries of Sri Lanka are governed by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act (FARA), provisions of which are administered by the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) and include heavy penalties for violators. Sri Lanka has become a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, FAO Compliance Agreement and the FAO Port State Measures Agreement. The country has also become a member of IOTC. Sri Lanka will implement measures against IUU fishing directly through the fisheries management mechanism that has been established by the Government or in co-operation with other coastal States or indirectly through the IOTC or FAO by providing the necessary support including information as appropriate. SLNPOA-IUU covers all marine capture fisheries within Sri Lanka waters and outside, and includes an integrated approach involving Coastal State measures, Flag State measures, Port State measures and Market State measures where applicable. All local stakeholders that include fishing boat owners, fishing boat skippers and fishers, fish traders and exporters, fisheries managers, fisheries law enforcement officials, fisheries researchers and NGOs have been made aware of the SLNPOA-IUU Section 3 (IPOA-IUU paragraphs 8 and 9).