The Sri Lankan government unveiled plans to ban the rearing, possession, transportation, breeding, and sale of invasive fish species to safeguard the nation’s delicate freshwater ecosystems. The forthcoming regulations, soon to be gazetted by the Fisheries Ministry, target species such as Piranha, Knife Fish, Alligator Gar, and Redline/Giant Snakehead, which threaten local biodiversity and fishing communities.

Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary to the Fisheries Ministry, highlighted the ecological risks posed by these invasive species, particularly when ornamental fish are released into reservoirs. “They breed rapidly and destroy local fishing resources, harming the livelihoods of fisher communities,” Jinadasa told reporters in Colombo. He noted that the Snakehead variety, with its sharp teeth that damage fishing nets, has proliferated significantly, exacerbating challenges for local fishermen.

To allow for a transition, a three-month grace period will enable individuals keeping these fish in private aquariums to apply for permits from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency. Alongside regulatory measures, the government is promoting public awareness through initiatives like an angling tournament held on September 20 at the Daduru Oya reservoir in northwestern Sri Lanka.

The event, which drew over 1,000 participants, including two from South India, resulted in the capture of 22 Snakeheads weighing between two and four kilograms. Jinadasa emphasized that the tournament served as both a conservation effort and a boost for sport fishing to enhance Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

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This decisive action underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to preserving its freshwater ecosystems while balancing economic and environmental priorities, protecting both biodiversity and the livelihoods dependent on sustainable fisheries.

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