A United Nations-flagged research vessel, R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, operating under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today (11) to conduct a marine scientific survey.
The survey will be carried out in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen assists countries in collecting critical scientific data for sustainable fisheries management and in understanding the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
The 32-day survey will focus on assessing marine living resources and ecosystems, providing updated scientific data to support Sri Lanka’s sustainable fisheries management and ocean governance.
During the mission, scientists will conduct a range of activities including hydro-acoustic surveys to estimate the biomass and distribution of key fish stocks in Sri Lankan waters, assessments of marine pollution levels, and biodiversity monitoring.
An important component of the program is capacity building. The mission will bring together Sri Lankan scientists from NARA and other national institutions with international experts, promoting scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Sri Lanka previously hosted the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 2018, when the vessel conducted a comprehensive survey of the country’s continental shelf and upper slope in collaboration with national institutions.
Earlier Nansen surveys were also conducted in Sri Lankan waters between 1978 and 1980, reflecting a long-standing scientific partnership under the Nansen program.
Sri Lanka’s participation in the latest survey reflects the country’s continued commitment to sustainable fisheries, marine ecosystem protection, and international scientific cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
