AWARENESS PROGRAM ON ILLEGAL FISHING CONDUCTED FOR SRI LANKA COAST GUARD AND NAVY OFFICERS IN TRINCOMALEE

Awareness program on combating illegal fishing activities was successfully held on 14^th July 2025. The event took place at the Naval Dockyard in Trincomalee and it was organized by the Sri Lanka Coast Guard with the collaboration of Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The primary aim of the program was to raise awareness among Coast Guard and Navy officers about the harmful effects of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing on the ocean and coastal ecosystems. IUU fishing poses a significant threat to marine biodiversity, national security, and the long-term sustainability of fisheries.

During the session, participants were educated on the methods of preventing IUU fishing, the critical importance of protecting marine ecosystems, how maritime environmental systems influence national security and the economic impact of ocean-based activities on the national economy. Furthermore, a comprehensively educated regarding the fisheries laws and their legal framework, highlighting the necessity of legal enforcement to combat against illegal activities.

The program also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation in enhancing operational efficiency and strengthening efforts to control unlawful maritime practices.

This event saw the participation of officers from the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Navy who serve at the Naval Dockyard and the Mahaweli Naval Base, along with a number of naval personnel assigned to coastal patrol duties. The program marked a significant effort in strengthening collaboration among key maritime agencies to protect Sri Lanka’s marine resources and ensure maritime law enforcement.