collapse of traditional lagoon fishery in malala and ebilleka lagoons sri lanka

Loss of access rights leads to collapse of traditional fisheries governance and rise of conflicts: A case from Malala and Ebillakela

lagoons in Sri Lanka

Erwin Rathnaweera & Jayantha Gunasekara

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Outline1.Objectives of the paper

2.Background to study

3.A brief on Lagoon Fisheries in Sri Lanka

4.Malala and Ebillakela lagoon fishery

5.Analysis

6.Lessons

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Objectives This attempts to discuss the consequences and impacts of introducing a State-led management mechanism for Malala-Ebillakela lagoon fishery under the Wild Life Act of Sri Lanka

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Background to the studyThis analysis is part of a fisheries project conducted by Practical Action (formerly known as ITDG), on building capacities small scale lagoon fishers to take the lead in collaborative lagoon ecosystem governance with other stakeholders. Practical Action has been working with 8 lagoons in Sri Lanka and Malala and Ebillakela is one of them.

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Lagoon Fisheries in Sri Lanka1.Sri Lanka is an island of lagoons !

2.The most marginalized Fisheries sub-sector

3.About 70,000 lagoon fisher families; very small scale dependent on 180 lagoons and estuaries

4.No proper assessment on lagoon fishersLagoon and Estuaries considered as garbage dumping grounds

5.Development programs aim at Coastal and Deep sea fishery

6.Provides the most commercially important fish species (wild fished);prawns and crabs for export incomes

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Lagoon Fisheries in Sri Lanka1.Sri Lanka is an island of lagoons !

2.The most marginalized Fisheries sub-sector

3.About 70,000 lagoon fisher families; very small scale dependent on 180 lagoons and estuaries

4.No proper assessment on lagoon fishersLagoon and Estuaries considered as garbage dumping grounds

5.Development programs aim at Coastal and Deep sea fishery

6.Provides the most commercially important fish species (wild fished);prawns and crabs for export incomes

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Malala and Ebillakela lagoon fishery1.Two lagoons connected to each other, having one lagoon mouth ;-Total water surface is 1080 ha2.Located in Southern province of Sri Lanka

3.450 lagoon fisher dependent on the lagoon ecosystem

4.Paddy farmers, Dairy farmers, firewood collectors living around the lagoon

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Analysis

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Community level fisheries self governance system 1.There were 13 fisher families in ancient times - location specific, trap fishery

2.With the increase of fishing population - formed community institution to regulate fishing ; Avoid conflicts, equal distribution of fishing resources, control encroachers etc.

3.Fishing gear (fishing traps, nets) and location specific, time and season bound (some fish species, crabs, prawns)

4.In British period, “The village Communities Ordinance (VCO) No.24 of 1889”. further empowered this system

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Development of the system1.This fisheries institution (FI) + Farmer organization managed excess water in the the lagoon during raining season2.FI began development work (rural roads, community centers, etc) with the government3.FI registered as fisheries cooperative and started micro credit system for fisher families and buying and selling fish 4.FI represented divisional/district and National fisheries and development forums

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District/Divisional level water management +Planning development activities

Regulating fishing + Fisheries Cooperative work + Village Development

Taking part in National level planning

Taking action agains migrant fishers, encroachers, illegal fishing

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Wildlife department enters 1.Lagoon ecosystem (adjoining forest) gazetted as a birds sanctuary in1969

2.National Wild life park in 19923.Wildlife department(WD) mandated to regulate NRM (including fisheries) 19924.WD introduced new fisheries management regulations, - no fishing at night, new identity cards, 6 fish landing centers, one fishing gear etc.

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WD manages fisheries

WDFisheries management plan

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Results 1.Collapse of the Community level self governance system

2.Limited time , so, fishers started using the most efficient fish gear to catch fish

3.Often zero mesh-sized nets in practice

4.Obtained identity cards through politics so,

5.Encroachers, migrant fishers got into fishing

6.Sever conflicts (fights) between fishers and fishers, fishers and encroachers, fishers and WD

7.Over-exploitation of the lagoon resources

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While

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Un-coordinated development work 1.Sate set-up a irrigation system for farmer colony (30km off)

2.Excess water of the irrigation system was diverted to lagoon

3.As WD in-charged, no fisher of farmer consulted

4.Lagoons became fresh water bodies, no brackish water

5.No prawns, crabs

6.Paddy farms (200 a) around the lagoon flooded

7.Conflict on opening the lagoon mouth between fishers and farmers

8.Excess water drainage canal - did not work

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Cause for lack of fish ?

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Over-fishing as the cause

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Fishing licensing system 1.WD introduced a licensing system to curb over-fishing

2.To which fishers opposed

3.Sever conflicts (Fights) between fishers and WD

4.Fishers leave the fishery , get into mafia groups, illicit liquor production, hunting wild animal

5.Increase of theft

6.Farmers continue to fight with fishers

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Lessons1.Understanding way of life and social aspects of fishers

2.Their traditional self governances systems

3.Building upon them, - British period

4.Include such systems into Development planning

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Acknowledgments Traditional lagoon fishers and farmers in Malala

Co-author, Jayantha Guneseraka

Practical Action staff

Editing, Joe Burns, K.V.S.Vithanage

N.Jayasekara

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Thank you

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