Abstract:
Sri Lankan reservoir fishery is one of the best documented in the South
East Asian region. It is very productive and the average fish yield in reservoirs
of the country is about 300 kg ha-I, yr". Nevertheless the Sri Lankan
reservoir fishery is not managed scientifically and in some reservoirs, fish
stocks are over-exploited. Since recently, some studies have been carried
out on the aspects of management of the capture fisheries in perennial reservoirs
of the country.
Empirical yield prediction models are found to be useful for setting limits
to the size of the fishery. Also by employing surplus yield predictive models,
maximum sustainable yield and optimal fishing intensity have been estimated
to be 256 kg ha'" yr-I and 3.2 boats km? respectively. Dynamic pool models
are also reliably applicable for the reservoir fisheries of Sri Lanka. Fish
yields in reservoirs could further be increased by introducing a subsidiary
gillnet fishery for minor cyprinids. Socioeconomics of fishing communities
should be better understood for effective implementation of fisheries management
strategies in Sri Lankan reservoirs.
