The tuna fishing countries in the Bay of Bengal region are at different levels of development. Each country has its uniqueness, and a different set of issues and opportunities. After conducting three scoping consultations in India, a Scoping Consultation was organized in Sri Lanka on 07 June 2016. The venue was Hotel Golden Star, Negombo, Sri Lanka. Fishermen, fish traders, exporters and representatives from developmental agencies participated in the Consultation. Concerns of depleting tuna stocks, escalating fishing cost and reducing income, non-availability of information on potential fishing grounds, scarcity of baitfish and landing of large amount of poor quality tunas were raised by the participants. They also wanted to find a solution to the allocation of catch quotas for principal tuna species in the Indian Ocean region.
In group activity, the participants developed the timeline of tuna fisheries development in Sri Lanka; and identified key locations and actors in tuna fisheries within and outside Sri Lanka and the linkages between different steps and actors. Following this, the participants also carried out a SWOT analysis of tuna fisheries in Sri Lanka. Sustainable fishing was identified as one of the strengths; insufficient application of rule of law as a weakness; regional relationship as an opportunity; and fishing boats from outside Sri Lanka landing catches in Sri Lanka as one of the threats.
The Scoping Consultation was useful in stakeholder identification and engagement, and increased clarity on concerns and opportunities in tuna fisheries in Sri Lanka.