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The total production of tuna and tuna like species of Sri Lanka in year 2018 was 114,374t. 82% of the catch was from the EEZ. 70% of the total catch was Skipjack tuna and Yellow fin tuna in equal shares, the catch amounting to 40,000t each. 3% of the catch was bigeye tuna. The bill fish were the second most group and it was 15% to the catch. Sword fish dominate in the bill fish catch. The shark catch was 1804t. Enforcement of shark management regulations and discouraging of gill net operations has drop the shark catches. Over 4000 multi day boats engaged in large pelagic fishing both high seas and within EEZ. 1337 vessels were authorised for high seas and only 1164 vessels active in 2018. 99% of the high seas operating vessels are less than 24m. VMS is mandatory for high seas operating vessels. Major fishing gears are long line and gill net. In 2018, 28%, 14% and 16% of vessels exclusively operated for longline, gill net and for Ring nets. 42% of the vessels used multi-gear of more or less combinations of these gears. Multi-gear vessels are being promoted to long line by introducing mechanised line haulers and the upgrading of vessel conditions to accommodate better cooling systems to improve the quality of the fish and reduce the post economic loss. High fuel cost has restricted the year round vessel operations and most vessels are being kept anchored. Electronic means of fish catch data collection is being implemented and carried out parallel to the paper log books. On board observers were deployed in all large vessels. Port State Measures are being implemented and E-PSM application is followed. Coastal data collection system is being improved by introducing better sampling techniques.
