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FOREWORD

The earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004 killed more than 300 000 people and devastated the livelihoods of many more. Fisheries and aquaculture were the sectors most severely hit by the disaster; many boats, fishing gear, ponds and support installations were destroyed or damaged.

Immediately after the tsunami, national and regional initiatives clearly identified an urgent need for comprehensive impact and needs assessment, prior to the planning and implementation of programmes aimed at rehabilitation of fisheries and aquaculture. Of particular importance to planning in the fisheries sector and the concept of "building back better" was how natural resources were impacted by the tsunami. Of particular concern was the possibility that during the relief stages fishing overcapacity might be created (through the provision of too many boats) with potential to negatively impact future fishery resources and the livelihoods of vulnerable communities.

The project "A rapid assessment of the status of the fisheries in tsunami affected areas of Indonesia and
Sri Lanka (OSRO/RAS/504/LAO)"¹ aimed to provide technical advice to enhance knowledge of the impact of the tsunami on a limited number of affected inshore fisheries habitats and marine resources, and make this more accessible to policy decision-makers and for medium- to long-term sectoral planning in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

This publication is the final report of that project and provides an interesting account of the status and trends in the fisheries resources of Sri Lanka and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province (Indonesia) prior to and immediately after the tsunami. The main findings of the report indicate that overall, the impact of the tsunami on fisheries was more related to ongoing and new tsunami-related "human" factors, than the direct physical or biological effects of the disaster on resources and ecosystems. This report highlights the need for continued support to medium- to long-term initiatives for post-tsunami fisheries sector management to ensure sustainable use of resources through the involvement of affected communities.

He Changchui Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

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¹ Implemented with funding support through donations from the Laotian people, diplomatic corps, international organizations, entrepreneurs, traders, residential expatriates, local provincial authorities and donors from different sectors in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).