Project Detail

Conserving marine biodiversity through a participatory and integrated management by Society for People Centered Developement

Rationale:
Destructive methods of fishing as a means of sustenance lead to destruction of the habitat and shallow water natural eco systems of coral reefs.

Objectives, activities:
Conserving marine biodiversity through a participatory and integrated management system to implement, mobilization of communities, awareness and capacity building programmes and livelihood development
Controlling destructive fishing practices, conserving marine bio diversity, ensure food security and getting the community to comply with the regulations of the Fisheries Act
Arrest the degradation of marine eco systems, ensure the long term sustainability of the marine fish resources whilst maintaining the supply of the popular animal protein need for the nation.
Under this project, women and youth are to be given training on financial management credit and thrift programmes, micro-enterprise development, marketing etc
They will be supported to commence related income generating activities to augment family incomes.
Information, education, awareness, capacity building programmes will be conducted.

Groups involved:
Coastal community at large, NGOs, CBOs, school children and teachers.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Society for People Centered Developement

Country:

Sri lanka

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 18,191.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 3,731.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 14,327.00

Project Number:

SRL/98/G52/019

Start Date:

5/2001

End Date:

5/2003

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Notable Community Participation

Community participation is achieved through the conservation of marine biodiversity.

Gender Focus

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Public awareness is promoted through community awareness raising.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Sustainability is achieved through income generation.

Capacity - Building Component

Training programmes and workshops achieve the capacity building component.

Project Results

1. 152 fishermen were engaged in destructive fishing at the commencement of the project programme.. At the conclusion of the project, as an outcome of the education, awareness and capacity building programmes,122 fishermen had realized the damage and destruction they cause to marine eco system and voluntarily gave up the illegal type of fishery using of bottom set gillnets, popularly known as ?Ballo-del?.

2. Through education and awareness programmes, around 450 children in 3 primary schools were made aware of the need for environmental protection and of the long term effects of the damage and destruction caused to marine environment by their elders through the destructive type of fishery their parents and relations are engaged on. The children carried the message to their parents and elders and also displayed their understanding of this issue at an arts competition.

3. The sum of Rupees 250,000/- provided by UNDP/SGP was used as the base to create a revolving fund. Among those who had voluntarily given up destructive fishing, 20 of the poorest and most deserving fishermen, identified by the community themselves, were issued fishing gear to undertake nn-destructive and alternate types of fishery. Loan recoveries have been made successfully and already 23 others from the waiting list have so far been issued with nets to continue their livelihood activities. The programme is continuing under the management of Kammaltota Fishermen?s Cooperative Society, the main project partner.

4. Women are also being supported likewise, through a revolving fund by of Rs.50000/-, to undertake income generation activities based on the training and guidance provided by the project. 52 women underwent these training programmes and initially 5 women were provided credit to start their livelihood activities.

5. The impact of the project had been such that the fisher community, who at the commencement of the project programme were suspicious and skeptical, gradually as an outcome of the education and awareness created through project programmes, realized the damage that they cause to the marine eco-system and besides giving up the illegal and banned fishing practices adopted by them, did come out on street demonstrations and demanded the government to strictly enforce the law and prosecute those engaged on destructive fishing methods.

6. The main focus of the project was to wean the fishermen away from environmentally unsound and destructive fishing practices that almost all the fishermen at Porutota and Kammaltota villages, had been engaged on. At the time of project conclusion, more than 80 percent of the community did voluntarily give up this type of fishery, shutting themselves out of a high income generating and less capital intensive type of fishery.

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