Following on from previous work conducted in Sri Lanka, which delivered a national baseline assessment of Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) and a programme of engagement and outreach in 2024, this short term contract conducted further work on developing a material flow analysis (MFA) of fishing gear in the country, as well as delivering specific methods for further dissemination and outreach.  The work has been conducted on behalf of Cefas, as part of the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), funded through the Blue Planet Fund. We worked with the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) in Colombo to deliver this project.

Sri Lanka hosts a significant fishing gear manufacturing sector, producing nets, lines, and floats to meet the demands of a high gear replacement rate. It is estimated that 27.8% of the gear used annually by registered vessels is mismanaged and ultimately becomes ALDFG in the marine environment, with a further 49.9% disposed of through other end-of-life (EOL) pathways.

To inform the MFA, data was gathered through interviews with key stakeholders across the fishing gear value chain, including net manufacturers, gear importers, and wholesale and retail distributors. The resulting analysis provides a comprehensive view of the life cycle of plastic fishing gear and the associated material flows. This information is crucial for understanding the scale and dynamics of the ALDFG issue and forms a basis for exploring circular economy interventions to improve the management of EOL fishing gear.

A suite of outreach materials was also produced and shared with key stakeholders to promote awareness of ALDFG-related challenges and to encourage more sustainable practices. These resources included:

• Translated Standard Operating Procedures for ALDFG management (available in Sinhala and Tamil)
• ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops and capacity-building sessions
• Informative posters featuring QR codes linking to further resources (two examples are pictured)
• Durable laminate cards for distribution aboard fishing vessels
• A short educational film
• Targeted social media engagement (primarily via Facebook) is there a link I can include?
• Academic journal articles currently in development

This work represents an important step in strengthening national capacity to address marine plastic pollution and foster more responsible management of fishing gear throughout its life cycle.

If you’d like to learn more about the results of this ALDFG project or similar initiatives, please visit the project pages on this website or get in touch with us directly.