The role of fisheries cooperative societies in addressing small-scale fishery predicaments in Northern Sri Lanka

The issues related to the small-scale fisheries operating in Northern Sri Lanka are multifaceted. These issues are intensifying with the recent challenges like COVID-19 and the prevailing economic crisis in the country and influenced by pluralistic managerial structures. However, how these fishery resources and related livelihoods are being managed amidst these issues has yet to be explored. Eight fisheries cooperative societies in Northern Sri Lanka were studied using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The aim was to understand their role as co-management entities to address the prevailing issues related to small-scale fisheries. As a result, the following three key themes were extracted—(1) the transboundary poaching by the Indian trawler fleet followed by the impact of the recent economic crisis combined with COVID-19, (2) the mistargeted blue economy ambitions of the Sri Lanka state government, and (3) poor fisheries management practices in Sri Lanka. The efforts by the fisheries cooperative societies to maintain the fishing activities sustainably were highlighted. However, concurrently, limited state efforts in expediting the solutions for chronic issues (e.g. Indian bottom trawling) and acute issues (pandemic and economic crisis) were identified as criticised by the fisheries cooperative societies. The role of institutions (e.g. fisheries cooperative societies, government) is at stake with the increasing vulnerability of the fisherfolks. Finally, recommendations were made to increase the sustainability of these co-management institutions and for transboundary fishery issues.