Sri Lanka has entered into a significant agreement with Norway aimed at strengthening the country’s fisheries monitoring system through modern technology.
A Sri Lankan delegation led by Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar is currently on an official visit to Norway, where it held high-level discussions with officials from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries in Oslo on April 23.
The discussions focused on modernising Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector and strengthening technical cooperation between the two countries.
Special attention was given to Norway’s advanced satellite-based vessel tracking system (AIS data) under the “Blue Justice” initiative, which helps monitor fishing activities and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Both sides explored the possibility of Sri Lanka accessing this technology free of charge.
The Norwegian side also agreed to provide specialised training programmes for Sri Lankan officials from the Ministry and the Department of Fisheries to ensure effective use of the system.
In a separate meeting with Anita Utheim Iversen, discussions were held on improving the nutritional value and quality of fish products, with a focus on global food security and sustainability.
Sri Lanka was also invited to join the “Food Nutrition and Composition Group,” a global initiative that will offer research institutions such as the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) opportunities for international cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Minister Chandrasekar reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening the fisheries sector through modern technology, stating that close collaboration with Norway would help develop the industry in line with international standards.
