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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has delivered a five-day fisheries risk assessment training course, from 22 – 26 September, to officers of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) in Sri Lanka.

Skills in risk assessment are a very important part of the role of officers involved in fisheries monioring, control and surveillance (MCS), highlighting the importance of such training in the development of national capacities. A State’s capacity in assessing risk is essential to the implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and complementary instruments and mechanisms to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and work towards sustainable fisheries.

The course covered theory and methodology approaches, and practical exercises. Training was also provided in the use of FAO information exchange applications, namely the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels (Global Record) and the PSMA Global Information Exchange System (GIES). Trainees gained new knowledge on undertaking robust and reliable risk assessments, and increased their skills in the use of FAO information systems, being now able to prepare and submit various types of reports through the GIES, depending on different scenarios.

During the same days, FAO also supported Sri Lanka with expertise to revise the principal fisheries legislation, building on other work carried out earlier this year.

The FAO team and national legal drafting officers reviewed current legislation and addressed gaps, also addressing MCS measures including inspections, VMS and enforcement follow-up, so that these are anchored in law.

This work represents significant progress in Sri Lanka’s effort to give effect to its international obligations and implement best practices, particularly in relation to the PSMA and relevant regional fisheries management organizations (RFMO) measures. Concrete progress achieved during this mission includes an agreed drafting architecture and consolidated needs analysis with proposed text for three secondary legislation, together with clear next steps to continue the ongoing legal assistance to Sri Lanka.

The mission was possible as a result of the Seventh PSMA Global Capacity Development Programme Support Project, funded by the European Union.