Detailed Overview

Across Sri Lanka, growing demand for shark and ray products — including meat, fins, gill plates, oil, and skins — has led to increasing landings of these vulnerable species. Most are caught as non-discard bycatch in tuna and billfish fisheries, where gillnets and longlines are the primary fishing methods.

Of the roughly 105 species landed in Sri Lanka, over 70% are now threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. Our research has also documented the local extinction of sawfishes, while their close relatives — wedgefish and guitarfish — appear to be following similar trends. Unlike bony fish, sharks and rays have slow life cycles more akin to whales or turtles, yet only five of Sri Lanka’s known species currently receive legal protection.

The decline of shark and ray populations — both locally and globally — threatens not only marine biodiversity but also the coastal communities that rely on these species for food security and income. Sharks and rays are vital to healthy ocean ecosystems, but they are also an important and affordable source of protein for many Sri Lankans.

To address these challenges, Blue Resources Trust established the Fisheries and Policy Programme — Sri Lanka’s first and only systematic, long-term study of shark and ray landings. The programme collects essential biological and fisheries data, including species identification, size, sex, maturity, fishing gear, and catch locations, and gathers tissue samples for genetic, stable isotope, and other analyses. The team also continually updates Sri Lanka’s elasmobranch species checklist and maintains the national identification guide developed by BRT. This long-term effort builds the evidence base needed for effective management and conservation, strengthened by BRT’s extensive collaborations with local partners and international experts.

Recognising that data collection alone is not enough, the programme actively works with national stakeholders to ensure research informs policy. BRT contributes data to IUCN Red List assessments, supports national reporting, and provides technical input to international conventions such as CITES and CMS — including the development of the e-NDF (electronic Non-Detriment Finding) tool for CITES species.

Beyond research and policy, the programme invests heavily in capacity-building and awareness-raising. It provides opportunities for young scientists and graduate students to gain field experience, and conducts training and outreach programmes for fisheries officers and government agencies to improve species identification and strengthen the enforcement of existing regulations.

Together, these efforts are helping to build a stronger scientific foundation for national policy — conserving Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity and supporting the communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on it.