Sri Lanka Forum for
Small Scale Fisheries

Research and publications

Work by forum members on value chains, processing, coastal ecosystems and the lives of fishing communities. Everything here is free to download.

Publications

  • 2025

    A comparison of socioeconomic dynamics and market performance in lobster and giant freshwater prawn value chains in Sri Lanka

    Ruwini Basnayake and Achini De Silva. Marine and Fishery Sciences 38(4).

    Maps actors and value chains in both sectors from interviews with 748 fishers, 44 collectors and 12 exporters, and assesses margins, price spread and marketing efficiency.

    Journal articleValue chains

    Download PDF Publisher page
  • 2024

    Physicochemical and microbial characteristics of selected dried fish products in Sri Lankan markets

    T. M. N. P. Thennakoon, A. A. M. Subodinee, D. N. Koralagama and N. Y. Hirimuthugoda. Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 27(1).

    Compares moisture, protein, salt, histamine and fungal contamination in boat-dried, land-dried, imported and Maldive fish samples from Colombo and Matara markets.

    Journal articlePost-harvest and processing

    Download PDF
  • 2022

    Fishing for Life 2022: Book of abstracts

    D. A. M. De Silva (ed.). South and South-East Asian Conference on Small Scale Fisheries and Aquaculture (SACSFA), ISBN 978-624-5727-24-7.

    Keynote summaries and around 40 abstracts across resource use, policy and trade, poverty and rights, gender, and governance of small-scale fisheries.

    ProceedingsGovernance and rights

    Download PDF
  • 2022

    Phylogenetic relationship of mangrove species found in Sri Lanka based on rbcL gene sequence

    N. Y. Hirimuthugoda, P. W. A. Perera, V. J. Aluthmuhandiram, A. Rashmi Ishuwara, M. M. K. Premakumara and P. K. Lal. Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 25(4).

    Genetically classifies Sri Lanka's 21 mangrove species, identifies Rhizophora anamalayana as a hybrid, and provides baseline data for mangrove conservation.

    Journal articleCoastal ecosystems

    Download PDF Publisher page
  • 2018

    Complete mitochondrial genome of Sri Lankan Junglefowl (Gallus lafayetti) and phylogenetic study

    N. Y. Hirimuthugoda, A. C. Adeola, X. Chen et al.. Mitochondrial DNA Part B 3(1): 83–84.

    Sequences the complete mitogenome of Sri Lanka's national bird and places it within the Gallus phylogeny.

    Journal articleGenetics

    Download PDF Publisher page
  • 2009

    Status of the South Coast lobster fishery 2009

    U. S. P. K. Liyanage and P. Jayasinghe. CENARA project report, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

    Resource assessment survey of the South Coast Lobster Fisheries Management Area, Hambantota District, supported by FAO, CIDA and IFAD.

    ReportResource assessment

    Download PDF
  • 2000

    Mechanization ahoy! Technological change and the living standards of fishermen in southern Sri Lanka

    Oscar Amarasinghe. SAMUDRA Report, International Collective in Support of Fishworkers.

    Traces state-led mechanisation of Sri Lankan fisheries since the 1930s, the credit that financed it, and its effect on fishers' incomes compared with other occupations.

    ArticleTechnology and livelihoods

    Download PDF

Press and commentary

Members write regularly for the national press on the issues facing fishing communities.

Daily News, 21 November 2025

Understanding fishing as a ‘way of life’

Oscar Amarasinghe and Kaumi Piyasiri

Written for World Fisheries Day: planners and policy makers need to understand fishing as a way of life, not only as a means of exploiting aquatic resources.

Read on Daily News

Too Big To Ignore, 28 February 2023

Towards a new area of support for small-scale fisheries and aquaculture

Regional closing event of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 for Asia, Bangkok, with SLFSSF among the panel.

Read on Too Big To Ignore

The Sunday Times, 9 October 2022

Oceans silenced, communities whipped: Energy crisis on fisheries

Oscar Amarasinghe and Kaumi Piyasiri

The 2022 fuel crisis kept fishers ashore and pushed fish prices past Rs. 3,000/kg, cutting families off from their main source of protein.

Read on The Sunday Times

The Sunday Times, 29 November 2020

Decent work for fishers: Towards ratifying the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 188

Oscar Amarasinghe

Offshore and deep-sea fishing changed labour relations on board. Sri Lanka has yet to ratify the convention that protects fishing crews.

Read on The Sunday Times

Sunday Observer

The future of Sri Lanka’s lobster and giant freshwater prawn sector

How consumers choose between lobster and giant freshwater prawn, the problems fishers face, and the case for eco-labelling and traceability.

View the clipping

Sunday Observer

Financial inclusion to build economic resilience among women fish processors in South Sri Lanka

Reports on the Savings for Future workshops in Kudawella and the “Seettu Samagam” approach to savings for women fish processors.

View the clipping

Share your work

If you are a member and have published on small-scale fisheries, send the reference and a PDF to info@slfssf.lk and we will add it here.