Sri Lanka blue swimming crab - bottom gillnet

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Overview

The Sri Lanka blue swimming crab fisheries improvement project (FIP) is a tripartite initiative that brings together small scale fishermen from four districts (Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Puttalam), seafood companies (Taprobane Seafood Group Pvt Ltd) and government agencies (Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the National Aquatic Resources Agency). The FIP is designed, coordinated, implemented, monitored, and internally evaluated by pelagikos pvt ltd.

The target stocks are blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) populations in the Palk Bay (northern Sri Lanka) and the Gulf of Mannar (northwestern Sri Lanka). The fishing method is bottom-set crab nets (approximately 1 kilometer long and 50 cm high). The fleet of vessels pursuing the stock comprises in the region of 4,500 fibre-reinforced plastic boats with outboard engines, operating from 76 landing centres in the two fisheries. All the vessels are registered and the fishermen have operating licences.

FIP Description 

The Sri Lanka blue swimming crab fisheries improvement project (FIP) is a tripartite initiative that brings together small scale fishermen from four districts (Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Puttalam), seafood companies (Taprobane Seafood Group P

FIP Objective(s) 

The FIP’s new immediate objective (Outcome) is to achieve MSC certifciaton for blue swimming crab (BSC) fisheries in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, by December 2025.

The FIP’s long-term objective (Future Goal) remains the same, for the blue swimming crab (BSC) fisheries in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar to operate at a level that is likely to generate the MSY and cause the minimum ecological impact on non-target species, marine habitats and the wider marine ecosystem, by means of a consultative management mechanism involving fishing communities, agents, exporters and the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources at the local, district and national level in 2029, co-financed by the National Fisheries Institute and an inclusive supply chain mechanism.

 

FIP Type 
Comprehensive
FIP Stage 
Stage 5: Improvements on the Water
Start and Projected End Dates
November 2013
December 2025
Update 
In 2023 a Corporate Member of the FIP and one of its customer in North America decide to enter the blue swimming crab fisheries in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar for Full Assessment (FA) against the MSC Fisheries Standard in 2024, with the aim of achieving certification by December 2025. Prior to commencing the FA, the Corporate Member of the FIP and the customer in North America has requested the FIP's status on Fisheryprogress.org to be changed from Basic to Comprehensive.
Next Progress Report Due 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Species 
Common Name 
Blue Swimming Crab
Scientific Name
Portunus pelagicus
Gear Type 
Bottom Gillnet
Location
FAO Major Fishing Area
Area 57 (Indian Ocean, Eastern)
Exclusive Economic Zones
Country 
Sri Lanka
Geographic Scope 
The Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar
Landings
Estimated Total FIP Landings 
1,956 metric tons
Estimated Total Fishery Landings 
1,956 metric tons
Landings Date 
December 2023
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FIP at a Glance

View current status
November 01, 2013
71% 25% 4%
Progress Rating (A) Advanced Progress

Reserved for comprehensive FIPs that have achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within the past 12 months.

(B) Good Progress

A basic FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result within 12 months.

(C) Some Recent Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months that has never achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result but has reported a Stage 3 activity within the first 12 months.
(D) Some Past Progress
  • A FIP that has achieved a Stage 4 or 5 result in more than 12 (but less than 24) months BUT has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old AND a Stage 3 activity has been reported within six months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.
(E) Negligible Progress
  • A FIP for which the most recent Stage 4 or 5 result is more than 24 (but less than 36) months old, with no Stage 3 activity reported in the last six months.
  • A FIP younger than 12 months with no Stage 3 activity reported within 12 months.
  • A FIP 12-36 months old that has never reported a Stage 4 or 5 result AND has not reported a Stage 3 activity within the past six months.

The ratings are currently derived by SFP from publicly available data on FIP websites, including FisheryProgress.org, and are determined using the following methodology: View PDF
C Some Recent Progress
Actions Complete

This pie chart represents completed environmental actions. Non-completed environmental actions may contain completed sub-tasks that are not illustrated here. For more information on environmental action progress visit the Actions Progress tab.
  • Complete
  • Incomplete
Next Update Due FisheryProgress requires a FIP to provide update reports every six months, and two missed reports will render the FIP inactive. If a report is overdue, this date will appear red.
Jun 2025
Target End Date
Dec 2025

FIP Leads

Organization Name 
pelagikos private limited
Organization Type 
Consultant
Primary Contact 
Steve Creech
Email 
steve@pelagikos.lk
Phone 
00 94 77 35 83 135
Website Name 
pelagikos private limited
FIP Identification Number The FIP Identification Number is automatically generated by FisheryProgress when a FIP profile is created. While the number itself is not meaningful, they are used by NGOs, academia, and industry to refer to FIPs in a consistent way.
7510