Sri Lanka lost a rare opportunity to gain vital scientific knowledge on its dwindling marine resources after the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) research vessel
Dr Fridtjof Nansen was denied permission to conduct a fisheries survey in Sri Lankan waters due to bureaucratic delays. The vessel, operated by Norway’s Institute of Marine Research (IMR), later proceeded to Bangladesh for its scheduled research work.
Ole Arve Misund, IMR’s Special Advisor on Sustainable Development, in an interview, stressed that Sri Lanka had missed out on crucial scientific data needed to understand the current state of its fish stocks. Since 2015,
Sri Lanka’s annual marine catch has dropped from 450,000 tonnes to around 300,000 tonnes, reflecting clear signs of overexploitation. Misund noted that such surveys are essential for building sustainable management strategies in a sector where contribution to GDP has already slipped from two percent to just one percent.
Despite this setback, Norway remains open to future cooperation, with discussions underway to bring the research vessel back to Sri Lanka by late 2026 or early 2027 through diplomatic and FAO channels.
Misund also welcomed Sri Lanka’s move to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels, noting that in the current geopolitical climate, countries must have clear and transparent frameworks to manage international cooperation in their waters.
The Norwegian expert further highlighted that Sri Lanka’s “blue economy” – spanning fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, and potential offshore resources could play a transformative role in national development if properly managed. He pointed to Sri Lanka’s strategic location along major global shipping lanes and its potential in aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming, as key growth drivers.
However, analysts argue that Sri Lanka’s Marxist-oriented government, instead of focusing on critical economic opportunities such as fisheries and maritime resource management, has been disproportionately consumed with targeting opposition politicians and scoring political points.
This preoccupation, critics say, risks sidelining long-term policies that could secure food security, foreign investment, and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.
On pressing regional challenges, such as poaching by Indian fishermen, Misund suggested that Sri Lanka could strengthen its joint commission mechanism with India to manage disputes—similar to how Norway and Russia have maintained fisheries cooperation despite political differences.
While Norway’s own prosperity was built on oil exploration, Misund cautioned that Sri Lanka should carefully balance petroleum ambitions with investment in renewable energy, citing the accelerating impact of climate change. Solar power, he noted, represents a particularly strong opportunity for Sri Lanka.
Ultimately, the interview underscores a painful reality: Sri Lanka risks falling behind in harnessing its blue economy potential if governance remains mired in political theatrics instead of policy execution. The question is whether the government will continue chasing political opponents or seize the chance to rebuild the nation’s marine future.
