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The total production of tuna and tuna like species of Sri Lanka in year 2020 was 114,638t. 84 % of the catch was
from the EEZ. 36% of the total catch was Yellow fin tuna, 38% Skipjack tuna and 5% was bigeye tuna. 13% of
the catch was bill fish while Sword fish dominate in the catch. The total shark catch was 721t. The YFT catch
reductions adhered as per 19/01. Large scale Gill net are being surveyed and reduced in number and length as per
resolution 17/07.
Over 5000 multi day boats engaged in large pelagic fishing in both high seas and within EEZ. 1118 vessels
were authorized to fish in high seas and only 927 vessels were active. 99% of the high seas operating vessels are
less than 24m. VMS is mandatory for high seas operating vessels. Major fishing gears used were long line and
gill net. The gill nets are being discouraged and transformed to selective gears. 34% , 20% and 19% of vessels
were exclusively operated for longline, gill net and ring net respectively. 27% of the vessels used multi-gear of
more or less combinations of the above gears in seasonal or incidental manner.
Multi-gear vessels are being promoted to long line by introducing mechanized line haulers and the upgrading of
vessel conditions to accommodate better cooling systems to improve the fish quality and reduce the post
economic loss. High fuel cost has restricted the year round vessel operations and most vessels are being kept
anchored. Electronic catch data collection system is being implemented and carried out parallel to the paper
log books. On board observers were deployed in all vessels >24m and pilot project on EMS is ongoing. Port
State Measures are being implemented through e-PSM application. Coastal data collection is being improved by
introducing better sampling techniques and to achieve the length frequency data in required proportions.
