Reservoir fisheries management in Sri Lanka: Achievements, mistakes and lessons for future

The inland fish production in Sri Lanka which has developed after introduction of the exotic cichlid species, Oreochromis mossambicus in 1952, has reached its peak in mid-1980s. However after discontinuation of state patronage for the development of inland fisheries of the country in 1990, the inland fish production has declined from 39 x 10(3) mt in 1989 to 12 x 10(3) mt in 1994. The dramatic increases in reservoir fish production were evident in late 1950s and early 1980s due to the introduction of O. mossambicus and implementation of state sponsored fishery management strategies, respectively. Sharing of power and responsibility between the government and local resource users is extremely useful for the management of the reservoir fishery.