FishSource

Sri Lanka blue swimming crab - bottom gillnet (FIP)

Last Updated: 2021-06-04

Evaluation Start Date: 2013-11-01

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Completed

FIP Lead: Seafood Exporters' Association of Sri Lanka (SEASL), Pelagikos Private Limited (PPL)

Comments:

This basic FIP is completed, with validation evidence of having met its revised objective, to maintain the ‘good alternative’ eco-recommendation by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program which was achieved in December 2018.

1. FIP Development	Jan 18	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 1 January 2018 — A revised assesment for the Sri Lanka Blue Swimming Crab is now available (2018). 1 May 2014 — A final report of the Sri Lankan Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Assessment is available (revised; process started in 2013) 25 November 2013 — A report of the Sri Lankan Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Assessment is available (revised)
2. FIP Launch	May 18	Confirmation of project participants 1 May 2018 — Participants have been updated. 1 May 2013 — Seafood Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (SEASL) is the FIP lead
2. FIP Launch	Nov 23	Workplan made public 19 November 2023 — Updated 2023 workplan 23 May 2019 — Work plan 2018-2019 made public 23 May 2019 — Work plan 2020-2021 made public 3 January 2018 — Work plan 2017-2018 made public 1 June 2016 — Work plan 2016-2017 made public 27 May 2014 — Complete workplan 2013-2016 with activities, milestones and progress status 1 November 2013 — Broad (logic) workplan 1 November 2013 — Development workplan for 2013 with tasks, milestones and details of progress
3. FIP Implementation	Mar 21	FIP activities undertaken 10 March 2021 — Workshop report; first technical training program on stock assessment and fish management tranining held 1 March 2021 — Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay 2020 stock assessments completed 17 September 2020 — 6th annual stock assessment conducted in GoM fishery; preliminary results made available 9 September 2020 — Letter sent to the Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources requesting permission to conduct legal training with police, Sri Lankan navy and district officers 14 July 2020 — The ecological impact assessment of fishing on marine habitats in the Palk Bay fishery was updated in July 1 September 2019 — Data from stock Assessments completed for Paulk Bay and Gulf of Mannar for 2015-2019 made public 1 September 2019 — The FIP completed a further two non-target species studies in the Palk Bay fishery and four new non-target species studies in the Gulf of Mannar fishery during the first semester of 2019 and results published in Summary report 13 March 2019 — Report on the ecological impacts of BSC fisheries on marine habitats in the Gulf of Mannar 12 March 2019 — Report on the ecological impact of BSC fisheries on marine habitats in the Palk Bay 27 March 2017 — In 2017 a report was produced on non-target species studies in the Palk Bay 27 March 2017 — In 2017 a report was produced on non-target species studies in the Gulf of Mannar 31 December 2016 — Consultation program to codify current fishing practicies being conducted. 15 December 2016 — Fishery mapping exercise conducted. 20 September 2016 — SEASL has drafted a harvest control strategy which includes: the Fishery and Aquatic Resources Act (1996), federal regulations for the BSC fishery, the establishment of rules and management tools for BSC fisheries 10 June 2016 — The 3rd Annual SLBSC FIP National Steering Committee Meeting was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation on Monday, 28th March 2016. 18 March 2015 — MSC Eco-labelling Training Programme 1 March 2015 — DFAR/BOBLME subproject, which will establish the current level of fishing effort–number of vessels, number and types of gear; fishing frequency – in the BSC fishery in four districts. 1 February 2014 — Formulation of a research plan & provision of financial support to local universities & NARA to conduct research into key aspects of the SLBSC fishery, consistent with MSC Principles 1 & 2 (ongoing) 1 February 2014 — Establishment of a Steering Committee (SC) for the SLBSC FIP comprising representatives of all relevant participants 1 February 2014 — Design, development & implementation of a process monitoring & evaluation mechanism the SLBSC fishery management system 1 November 2013 — Study of crab hatchery technology: measures to mitigate the impact of harvesting ovigerous females
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Jan 21	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 1 January 2021 — Taprobane Seafood Group Pvt Ltd signs the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Responsible Purchasing; Taprobane agreed not to purchase crabs weighing less than 100 g at any of their primary processing centers 20 May 2020 — BMT score 1.2.1 increase; CAB MSC Pre Assessment 2020 - Review of Six Indicators 20 May 2020 — BMT score 2.4.2 increase; CAB MSC Pre Assessment 2020 - Review of Six Indicators 20 May 2020 — BMT score 3.2.3 increase; CAB MSC Pre Assessment 2020 - Review of Six Indicators 20 May 2020 — BMT score 2.4.3 increase; CAB MSC Pre Assessment 2020 - Review of Six Indicators 20 May 2020 — BMT score 2.2.2 increase; CAB MSC Pre Assessment 2020 - Review of Six Indicators 20 May 2020 — Increase to MSC PI score 1.2.2. 30 June 2018 — Gulf of Mannar BSC fishery management plan published 30 June 2018 — Palk Bay BSC fishery management plan published 31 December 2016 — Fishermen leaders from the three districts are working on a unified voluntary code of conduct for the BSC major fishery due to come into operation January 2017. 1 December 2016 — Studies to determine blue swimming crab fishery's impact on non-target species. 31 March 2016 — Stock assessments are being conducted on an ongoing basis using length based spawning potential ratio (LB SPR) with data collected from local fishers at landing site 1 October 2014 — SEASL completed a 1-month stock assessment in Kalpitiya as part of grant awarded by UN-IOM, using SPR methodology. Trials on a gill-net selectivity study were also undertaken in Kalpititya, which will feed into another gillnet selectivity study by UN-ILO in the North of the country.
5. Improvements on the Water	Sep 19	Verifiable improvement on the water 1 September 2019 — 2019 STOCK ASSESSMENT – PALK BAY i)The results of the 5th annual stock assessment conducted between March & May 2019 suggested that the fishery was currently being fished at or above a level consistent with a sustainably managed fishery (LBSPR = 0.2). 1 September 2019 — 2019 STOCK ASSESSMENT – GULF OF MANNAR FISHERY The results of the 5th annual stock assessment conducted in May and June 2019 suggested that the fishery was currently being fished at or above a level consistent with a sustainably managed fishery (LBSPR = 0.57). A
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public