Have you ever wondered why the fish you usually buy at the market is unavailable, or why its price has suddenly increased? Beyond socio-economic factors, one of the most significant reasons for these fluctuations lies hidden in the health of our oceans.
Sri Lanka’s Ocean is not merely a natural resource; it is the lifeline of our nation. With approximately 1,620 km of coastline, this island is home to a rich marine biodiversity hotspot, supporting more than 1,800 fish species and over 380 coral reef species. The southwestern coral reefs, the Kalpitiya fishing grounds, and coastal fishing communities stand as evidence of its immense value. At the same time, nearly 30% of the population lives in coastal areas, while 60% of the country's cities are located along the coastline. Of the 21 marine habitats, including mangrove forests, coastal wetlands, and seagrass beds, 10 are already under threat of degradation. Furthermore, around 80% of marine pollution is caused by human activities, emphasising that protecting this invaluable marine wealth is not only an environmental responsibility but also a commitment to safeguarding the future of the nation's livelihoods.
Sri Lanka’s marine future does not depend solely on the extent of its deep-sea territory. Rather, it depends on how effectively the chemical balance extending from the deep oceans to the coastline is protected. Yet beneath those beautiful blue waters, an invisible threat is steadily emerging. That threat is Marine Chemical Hazards.
Most of the time, our attention is focused only on the impacts occurring in coastal areas. However, one crucial question now we must consider is whether Sri Lanka’s deep-sea and coastal regions could be linked by a common plot of chemical threats. Awareness of this possibility has become essential. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka still has limited dedicated national data on deep-sea chemical monitoring. Understanding how these two zones fall under the influence of the same threats remains an important area that requires further exploration.
A common foundation
Although Coastal Ecology and Deep-sea Ecology possess distinct characteristics, they are closely interconnected when it comes to chemical threats. Chemical spills or contamination occurring in coastal areas can be transported into the deep sea through ocean currents. Likewise, changes occurring in the deep ocean ultimately affect the ecological balance of coastal environments.
Sri Lanka’s strengths
Sri Lanka possesses several strong foundations. Higher education institutions continue to produce capable researchers in fields such as Marine Ecology, Chemistry, and related disciplines. Institutions including the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCD), and the Ministry of Fisheries have, for decades, demonstrated Sri Lanka’s academic foundation, professional expertise, and commitment through their work in marine resource management, monitoring, and conservation.
Existing gaps and challenges
Although these resources provide an excellent foundation, our success ultimately depends on how effectively we integrate them.
From the perspective of expertise, Sri Lanka has yet to sufficiently develop specialised knowledge in deep-sea chemical changes and Ecotoxicology. Moreover, in terms of technical capability, the country still lags in possessing advanced technological instruments and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities required to detect and monitor chemical hazards in the deep sea.
Furthermore, although a Policy and Governance Framework exists for marine protection to a certain extent, there is still a need to strengthen a clear legal framework and administrative coordination that specifically integrates deep-sea and chemical safety. Challenges also remain in securing adequate funding for continuous scientific research and in establishing internationally standardised monitoring systems.
In the past, Sri Lanka’s coastal environment functioned as a robust Biodiversity Structure capable of sustaining natural ecological balance. However, today the pollution caused by human activities, Habitat Degradation, and climate variability such as El Niño are gradually weakening these natural defenses. If this trend continues, Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity, fisheries, the livelihoods of coastal communities, and the sustainability of the nation’s Blue Economy will face serious threats in the future.
From a logical standpoint, Sri Lanka’s technological and policy-related setbacks currently outweigh the strength of its academic resources. Without addressing these gaps, comprehensive marine protection cannot be achieved.
Strategic plans for the future
To effectively address chemical threats, coordinated changes across government, academia, and professional sectors are essential.
In the short term, priority should be given to establishing an Integrated Monitoring Network capable of detecting and continuously assessing chemical impacts in Sri Lanka’s coastal and deep-sea regions from their earliest stages. At the same time, existing marine regulatory frameworks should be strengthened by incorporating clear provisions relating to chemical hazards. In addition, establishing a nationally coordinated Centralised Database that enables rapid sharing of research findings among researchers, government institutions, and technical experts would provide a strong scientific foundation for evidence-based decision-making.
From a long-term perspective, establishing a dedicated Marine Ecotoxicology research center that integrates government agencies, universities, and research institutions has become a necessity of our time. Alongside this, Sri Lanka should strengthen technological exchange and scientific collaboration with international partners and leading research institutions in order to acquire advanced equipment and analytical facilities required for deep-sea monitoring. Furthermore, by integrating subjects such as Deep-sea Chemistry, Marine Ecotoxicology, and Environmental Policy Management into university curricula, it will be possible to develop a new generation of specialists capable of addressing future marine challenges through scientific approaches.
The chemical threats hidden beneath the depths of the ocean are not distant problems. They have the potential to directly affect our food chain, our economy, and the environment as a whole. This is a national responsibility. If we fail to prepare ourselves to protect our deep-sea treasures today, what will we leave behind for future generations?
(The author is a volunteer writer of The Pearl Protectors)
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication