About the Marine Conservation Project
The territorial waters of Sri Lanka are rich in marine species. Five of the world’s seven species of turtles nest along the coasts of Sri Lanka. Thirty species of marine mammals inhabit the offshore waters. Sixty-one species of sharks belonging to seventeen Families in five Orders have been recorded in Sri Lanka. More than one million people depend upon fisheries for their income and fish is the major source of protein in local diets. There is very little information available about the status of Sri Lanka’s vulnerable and endangered marine ecosystems. Therefore this research and conservation initiative is both critical and timely.
Project Objectives
- Long term monitoring and research of Sri Lanka’s coastal and marine ecosystems
- Preserve undamaged coastal and marine ecosystems.
- Recovery and regeneration of degraded ecosystems and endangered animal populations.
- Education programs to promote awareness of coastal and marine environmental issues.
- Develop sustainable employment & income sources for coastal communities
Research Projects:
- Sea turtle research
- Dugong research
- Pink Dolphin research
- Reef fish research
- Brackish water fish and crustacean research
- Migratory bird research
Volunteer Activities:
- Help identify seagrass species, range of distribution in the lagoon, life cycle and growth and associated species.
- Identification and long-term monitoring of bird species in the lagoon, their feeding and breeding patterns.
- Participate in beach transects along the coastline to observe sea turtles, nesting sites, and threats. Monitor bird species along the coastline, their feeding, behaviour and breeding patterns.
- Engage with local fishing communities to understand their issues and concerns and how they impact the coastal and lagoon ecosystems.
- Beach clean-ups.
- Dolphin and whale observations. Identify species, take location sightings and observe behaviours.
- Rescue sea turtles, birds or any other marine mammals that are encountered entangled in marine debris.
- Observation and water sampling in the lagoon by boat. Monitor water quality.
- Observe dugongs and pink dolphins in the lagoon. Identify species, take location sightings and observe behaviours.
- Marine debris monitoring along the lagoon and coastline.
- Fishing community surveys. Visit local fish landing centres to observe and take species list of large scale and small-scale fishing.
- Catalogue photos and datasheets for future reference and in order to prepare field guides.
