Socioeconomic Issues Related to the Spiny Lobster Fishery in Mirijjawila Village, Hambantota District, Sri Lanka
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Spiny lobster fishery is a well-established reef associated income generating fishing activity in the
southern coast of Sri Lanka. As there is a high demand on spiny lobsters in local and export market
they faced to a high risk of overexploitation. As such suitable management plans are needed to
ensure the sustainability of this spiny lobster fishery. In order to develop a proper management
plan, it is compulsory to have a clear understanding of the socioeconomic issues faced by the
lobster fisher folk in the area. With this point of view, a survey on the reef associated fisher folk
was carried out at Mirijjawila Village, Hambanthota district from 16th of January 2020 to 16th of
January 2021, in order to obtain their views on the current socioeconomic issues and trends related
to spiny lobster fishery. Data were collected via pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire formal
and informal discussions and field observations. Results indicated that the major socio-economic
issues related to this industry were the lack of a fixed price system for spiny lobsters, lack of a
well-defined existing property right for fisher folk in the area and illegal activities done by
fishermen and collectors, access of unauthorized people to the fishery, prevailing COVID 19
situation, alternative livelihood during the spiny lobster fishery. This study suggests that these
issues are needed to be addressed to formulate a local level sound fisheries management plan with
continuous monitoring studies.
Keywords: Spiny lobsters; Socio-economic issues; Fisheries management; Sri Lanka
Description
Keywords
Aquaculture and Fisheries, Fisheries Industry, Fish, Animal Sciences