The Ministry directly engages itself with the formulation of policies, strategies and plans on sustainable utilization of fisheries resources in Sri Lanka. Different organizations have been established under the Ministry to implement the national and sectoral policies formulated by the Ministry. Under the “ Mahinda Chinthana “ the fisheries sector has achieved a great leap forward with the implem
entation of newly formed projects and programmes , it is evident that the national policy objectives would be achieved. Ministry is responsible for the administration of marine fisheries sector in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 517,000 square kilometers and 489,000 hectares of the brackish & freshwater fisheries sectors. Contributing to 1.3 percent of the GDP of Sri Lanka, the fisheries sector provides 70 percent of the animal protein intake in the country. In addition to playing a major role by contributing to food security and ensuring the nutrition of the population, the sector provides about 540,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Further, it plays a major role in foreign exchange earnings and present annual contribution is about US$ 200 million.
