Illegal Fishing refers to fishing activities

(a)    By local or foreign boats in waters under the jurisdiction of a State, without the permission of such State, or in contravention of its laws and regulations;

(b)    By boats flying the flag of States that are parties to a relevant regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) but operate in contravention of the conservation and management measures adopted by such RFMO and by which the States are bound, or relevant provisions of the applicable international law;

(c)    In violation of national laws or international obligations including those undertaken by co-operating States to a relevant RFMO

Unreported Fishing refers to fishing activities

(a)     Which have not been reported or have been misreported to DFAR, which is the national authority for management of fisheries, in contravention of the requirements stipulated by regulations made under the FARA or administrative procedures stipulated by DFAR;

(b)     Undertaken in the area of competence of IOTC or any other relevant RFMO, which have not been reported or have been misreported, in contravention to the reporting procedures of IOTC or such other RFMO as the case may be

National Action of Fish Production

This document, which is titled the Sri Lanka National Action Plan to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (SLNPOA-IUU) contains measures that are being implemented and those proposed to be adopted for implementation to combat IUU fishing activities conducted by local fishing boats in Sri Lanka waters, waters of national jurisdictions of other coastal States, and high seas, and by foreign fishing boats in Sri Lanka waters. It has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines given by the International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (FAO, 2001). Fisheries of Sri Lanka are governed by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996 as amended by Acts No. 4 of 2000, 4 of 2004 and 22 of 2006 (FARA). FARA does not include provisions to implement measures, which are needed to combat IUU fishing activities conducted by local fishing boats in high-seas and waters in national jurisdictions of other States. Action has now been initiated to incorporate provisions in FARA that enable DFAR to control fishing activities conducted by local fishing boats in high seas and national jurisdictions of other coastal States, and thereby combat IUU fishing activities conducted by local fishing boats outside Sri Lanka waters. Till such legal provisions are incorporated into FARA, measures required to control fishing activities conducted by local fishing boats outside Sri Lanka waters are implemented as administrative procedures

Coperate Other Activities of Fish

Sri Lanka is willing to cooperate with other States by entering into appropriate agreements or arrangements or by other possible means for the enforcement of applicable laws and conservation and management measures adopted at the national, regional and global levels to combat IUU fishing. If another State requests for Sri Lanka’s assistance in deterring trade in fish and fish products harvested illegally in the jurisdiction of that State, Sri Lanka will provide possible assistance in accordance with the terms agreed and the international law
Sri Lanka will submit reports to FAO on progress of implementation of the SLPOA-IUU as part of the biennial reporting on implementation of the Code of Conduct of Responsible Fisheries

Fisheries industry of Sri Lanka

The fisheries industry of Sri Lanka contributes significantly to the nutrition, employment and food security, foreign exchange earnings, and government revenue of the country, and therefore its sustainability has become a primary concern in economic development of the country. Sri Lanka perceives IUU fishing as a serious threat to the sustainability of fisheries in both national jurisdictions and high seas, and agrees that such fishing has to be prevented, deterred and eliminated in order to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries industry and conserve biodiversity in the oceans. Towards this end, Sri Lanka has adopted a number of measures in conformity with the national and international law and is in the process of taking further action. Sri Lanka is also committed to co-operate with other States, both directly and through IOTC and where necessary other the regional fisheries management organization, to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing