CEFAS23-157 Contract for services to support of Sri Lanka shark and ray trade under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP)

In February 2023 Cefas supported species identification training through the UK Governments Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) to frontline fisheries staff in Sri Lanka and engaged with the fisheries directorate to discuss evidence priorities. Support with the revision of Sri Lanka's current National Plan of Action (NPOA) for elasmobranchs and the associated activities around this was identified as a priority. This includes the need to develop a full list of elasmobranch species being caught, landed, and traded in Sri Lanka followed by the development of a national ID guide. This resource would then be used as a training reference for existing and future staff within the fisheries departments, customs, and coastguards in the field to support robust data collection, identify and prosecute illegal activities and thus promote sustainable elasmobranch fisheries.

2. Aims and Objectives

The overarching aims and objectives of the project are:

1. To review and update the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Sri Lanka's elasmobranch populations in collaboration with the Fisheries department of Sri Lanka and Cefas and socialise the developed plan with stakeholders in Sri Lanka.
2. Use visual and DNA-based approaches to identify elasmobranchs sampled at markets across Sri Lanka to support the development of a national identification guide.
3. To provide technical support to two master's students working on DNA analysis of market samples and population assessment methods.
4. Facilitate and deliver workshops on the visual identification of CITES listed elasmobranchs to fisheries and trade management staff, using updated identification guides (post CITES Convention of the Parties in Nov 2022 (COP19)).