The Hon. Stepni Fernando

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, today we debate Regulations under: - Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996; and - Fishermen’s Pension and Social Security Benefit Scheme Act, No. 23 of 1990.

¶ 02 Under the Fisheries Act item we are regulating mud crab harvesting. Sri Lankan crabs are endemic and command a strong global market. Yet until now exports and local sales happened without standards—every crab caught was sold, leading to a sharp population decline. We should have acted five years ago.

¶ 03 Under the new rule, only crabs with carapace width over 130 mm may be harvested, kept, or exported; smaller crabs cannot be taken. By allowing crabs to breed once or twice before harvest, we rebuild stocks. A single crab lays hundreds of thousands of eggs; even 50–60% survival yields strong recovery.

¶ 04 We must protect lagoons and wetlands that support fisheries. We are running conservation in lagoons, starting with Negombo this year, restoring habitats. We should establish hatcheries and release juvenile crabs into lagoons and the sea. These measures must be scientific and consultative, not ad hoc.

¶ 05 A quality Sri Lankan mud crab can weigh 1–2 kg, fetching around Rs. 15,000 per kilo locally, and higher in export markets—an important foreign exchange earner. Without regulation and replenishment, in 5–6 years crabs could become rare. While tuna and other pelagics are widespread globally, this crab’s taste and quality are uniquely Sri Lankan; hence the price premium and need for protection.

¶ 06 On the fishers’ pension and social protection Regulations under the 1990 Act: pensions existed before but had low uptake due to payment difficulty and poor awareness. We have now designed an accessible, low-friction system via Fisheries Inspectors at ground level. For example, an 18-year-old can enter by committing a total of Rs. 5,285 over life, qualifying for the scheme. Fishers can pay monthly or in 3-, 6-, or 12‑month tranches, fitting irregular incomes. This protects aging fishers who otherwise fall to menial work when they can no longer go to sea.

¶ 07 We will safeguard coastal and inland fisheries alike. Despite recent floods and landslides, we, as MPs and Government, have supported affected districts and will continue to lift people to a better place. Thank you.