Last month’s multiple tragedies in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka highlight the need for awareness-building amongst the island's fisheries community and review the current fisheries regulatory framework, particularly with regard to safety at sea.

In June, three fishing accidents were reported within two days, leaving six fishermen dead. The incidents began on 28 and 29 June, three fishing vessels faced accidents on the southern coast. In Matara, on 28 June, a multi-day fishing boat was struck by a commercial vessel in the night, when allegedly, the crew had fallen asleep. The vessel's transponder had apparently been switched off, which is a major safety, navigation and security concern. The Sri Lanka Navy was only able to save two of the five fishermen on board the vessel in the aftermath of the incident. Off the coast of Tangalle, another multi-day trawler collided with a rocky ledge, causing the boat to capsize, leaving two dead. A few hours later, despite warning of stormy seas, a single-day small boat left to sea carrying two fishermen – brothers – from Kalutara. Within 500 metres of the shore, the boat toppled over and only the life jackets of the fishermen washed ashore. Following the three incidents and the ensuing public outcry about the state of affairs, a committee was appointed shortly after to investigate the safety shortcomings of the fisheries sector, which included representatives from the Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Merchant Shipping Secretariat, and Fisheries Department. They are to investigate shortcomings in fisheries operations and recommend amendments and short- and long-term solutions for the safety issues faced by fishermen at sea.

The first responders to the incident, other fishing vessels which were nearby, the Navy and Air Force observed that despite a mandatory requirement to have life jackets of each crew member on board, many of the victims were not wearing them. This lack of compliance and disregard for regulations and law has been observed by some fisheries regulators and law enforcement agencies as one which is prevalent in the fishing community. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director General S.J. Kahawatta said that short-term and long-term recommendations will be delivered by the committee.

A senior fisheries official stated that while the Fisheries Department routinely checks compliance on the mandated safety equipment on board multi-day fishing vessels along with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, many fishermen do not wear the jackets while at sea. “There is a culture issue at play here. Unfortunately, the level of education amongst fishers and the ways of the culture their community lives by does not encourage compliance, nor do they take safety seriously. This is not something which can be changed overnight, we need to educate fisher communities and perhaps improve the training given to those who go to sea to build the practice.” Currently, only the ‘Skipper’ of sea-going, multi-day fishing boats are required to follow a short course to be issued a licence to operate a fishing vessel at sea. While there are other courses which provide National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ)-level training, few follow them. The tragedies which occurred underscore the need to review the licensing framework and improve it to be inline with global best practices. Another issue which impacts safety, is the fact that Sri Lanka’s thousands of small fishing dingy boats, powered by outboard motors, are difficult to keep track of and check compliance with, as they operate from open coastal beach stretches, and are not secured in fisheries harbours like multi-day fishing boats. Their deployment, navigation and return are largely unregulated, and lack any radio communication, or tracking systems. The dinghies are also less suited for rough weather seafaring and are prone to wash outs and capsizing when met with large waves. In a recent rescue effort, SLAF aircrew despite rough seas and wind gusts had to choose a riskier method of winching three fishermen from a dingy to safety due to multiple fishing appliances being attached to poles which protruded from the dingy like spikes, making a direct descent for rescue officers into the dingy hazardous. In that incident one of three occupants did not have a life jacket.

Given what happened, and the fact that Sri Lanka needs to develop better sustainable fishing practices, it is timely that a review of the fisheries training, regulatory process be carried out, and recommendations enacted.