Status of the Brackish Water Fishery in Anawasala in Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue XII, December 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Status of the Brackish Water Fishery in Anawasala in Kalpitiya Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka

M.D.K.L.Gunathilaka
Department of Geography, University of Colombo. Sri Lanka

Abstract: – Brackish water fishery is one of the segments of the fishery industry in Sri Lanka. Lagoon environments are the most appropriate areas for brackish water fishery worldwide. Kalpitiya is well known for brackish water fishery based on Puttalam lagoon. Generally, the small-scale fishery has dominant constraints. The objective of the study is to identify the issues associated with small-scale fishery (SSF) in Anaiwasala fishing village. To fulfil the aim of the study questionnaire survey and non-structured interviews based on random sampling method was performed with visual encounter survey for one year to obtain primary data. The available literature on small-scale fishery was studied to get secondary data.MS Excel 2016 version was used to analyse the data and perform the relevant mapping. The results show the SSF in the village has different constraints. Saccostrea spp, Merefrixcasta, Penaeusindicus, Scylla serrata and Epinephalu ssp are the dominant species in the area. 16.6% of Tungusnet usage in the area is illegal. Dragnet and push net are identified illegal fishing methods while few of fishermen used secret illegal fishing methods.13% of teppam (log raft) generally carried out illegal dragnets. More than 80% of fishermen seasonally engaged in crab harvesting.80% of residents only have secondary education is a direct threat for the SSF. Unawareness has contributed to destruct associated surface ecosystems and benthic ecosystem. Non-target species catching also existed in the area. Increase of the number of fishermen and inadequate fish species population is also affected to have a standard SSF industry in Anaiwasala. To overcome the issues awareness programmes and enforcement of the legal framework should be applied in Anaiwasala fishing village for the utmost existence of SSF community.

Keywords: Anaiwasala, Brackish water, Ecosystem, Illegal, Small-scale fishery (SSF)

I. INTRODUCTION

Coastal lagoons are the most affected aquatic ecosystems in the world.13% of small extent belong to the lagoon in worldwide. In Sri Lanka 44 lagoons were identified around coastal belt (Figure1) [8].Lagoons are the places where brackish water fishery is dominant. Lagoons are very special ecotones as the transition zone of the ocean and fresh water mixing. The environment naturally hasa high potential for primary production and create natural habitats for a number of faunal species [7].

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