A special delegation from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries conducted a special audit in Sri Lanka from 27 to 30 April to assess the management of the country’s fisheries industry and measures taken to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Participating in the inaugural session of the audit, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar emphasized that the government remains fully committed to maintaining Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry in line with international standards. As part of these efforts, the Minister assured that steps would be taken to promptly present the new Fisheries Act to Parliament for approval and implementation.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ratna Gamage, who attended the concluding session of the audit, stated that the government’s commitment to curbing illegal fishing activities was clearly conveyed to the delegation. He noted that close attention has been given to every observation and recommendation made by the audit team, with the aim of steering the country’s fisheries sector towards a more systematic and sustainable path.

During the audit, the delegation inspected the operations of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), fish export procedures, quality control mechanisms, and the functioning of the Dikovita and Wellamankara fishery harbours. Extensive discussions were also held on the legal framework governing international fishing activities and the efficiency of data reporting systems.

The European Union accounts for nearly 40 percent of Sri Lanka’s total tuna exports, while almost 50 percent of the country’s fish export revenue is generated from the EU market. Accordingly, the successful implementation of these audits and the adoption of their recommendations are considered vital for the stability and long-term growth of Sri Lanka’s fisheries economy.