Sri Lanka to stop destructive fishing in northern seas
June 12th, 2011 - 8:19 pm ICT by IANSColombo, June 12 (IANS) Sri Lanka would place barriers at strategic locations in the island’s northern seas to stop destructive fishing methods, a minister has said.
The region includes some of the most extensive mangrove areas, and some of the world’s least disturbed coral reefs, the Sunday Times quoted Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne as saying.
These coastal ecosystems have been subjected to increasing exploitation, particularly over the last 20 years.
A one-month period - starting May 15 - is considered as the fish breeding period, and fishermen traditionally avoid fishing in this part of the ocean, he said.
India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh recently said fishermen from both the countries should look at the sustainability of valuable marine resources and avoid over-fishing in shared waters.
Ramesh said marine biodiversity was an important natural resource whose conservation was as important as that of forests.
- Gujarat coral reefs a virtual gold mine - Mar 27, 2011
- Study finds how sea urchins affect coral reefs' growth - Jan 15, 2011
- 75 percent of world's coral reefs under threat: report - Feb 24, 2011
- World's oceans need greater protection: UN chief - May 23, 2012
- Coral reefs will survive ravages of warming: Scientists - Apr 17, 2012
- World's coral reefs 'at risk due to overfishing, climate change' - Feb 24, 2011
- Vietnamese fishermen held in Philippines - Apr 26, 2012
- 'Stress test' to identify 'reefs of hope' in climate change era - Mar 23, 2011
- Real-life marine haven for Nemo and friends - Dec 05, 2010
- New approach to ease the oceans from overfishing, pollution and human impact - Sep 15, 2010
- Weed-eating fish 'vital to coral reefs' survival' - Mar 11, 2011
- Red grouper is the 'Frank Lloyd Wright' of the sea - Jan 20, 2010
- Invasive Lionfish Poses Danger to Virgin Islands Coral Reef - Aug 10, 2010
- Fish help coral coral reefs recover - Nov 14, 2011
- Shark sanctuary declared in eastern Indonesia - Nov 17, 2010
Tags: coastal ecosystems, coral reefs, destructive fishing, environment minister, fish, fisheries, fishermen, forests, India, jairam ramesh, mangrove areas, marine biodiversity, marine resources, natural resource, northern seas, sri lanka, sunday times, sustainability