Author(s): PCB Dias, JDM Senevirathna, NPP Liyanage and HMUM Herath

Abstract: The demand of fishery for diverse fish species is determined by the fishermen, consumers, and their catching or purchasing decision respectively. Knowledge on precious identification and exploitation level of the fish species is significant to make a correct decision considering sustainability and conservation status. Hence this study intended to provide a computer based fisheries management tool as fulfilling above requirements by making an attitudinal change of the stakeholders. Diagnostic characters of each fish were confirmed by the in-situ morphological study using photographs and visual observation. A user-friendly scale including five colors of sustainability rating was generated by combining Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) stock status and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation data. A traffic light system was developed using above sustainability rating of the fish as displaying consumer advices; “avoid” (red color), “suit” (green color) or “think” (yellow color). Out of 22 selected fish species three, five and fourteen number of species were categorized under the Lanka Fish ranking of “avoid”, “suit” and “think” respectively. Most of the shark and billfish species were categorized under the “Not entirely sustainable” and “Fish to be assessed” due to data deficiency, therefore this study highly recommends comprehensive scientific studies on target species. The developed Lanka fish web application (http://www.uwu.ac.lk/lankafish/) act as a user-friendly fisheries management tool while demonstrating the consumer advice for each species to sustain utilization of marine food fish species in Sri Lanka.

Pages: 123-127  |  928 Views  132 Downloads

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