The Pearl Protectors

Sewage Disposal into the Ocean: The Silent Crisis Along Sri Lanka’s Urban Coastlines

The Pearl Protectors — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:20:21 +0000

By: Moira Alfred

In Colombo, 90% of the sewerage infrastructure is over a century old. Every day, more than 100,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage get pumped into the ocean through two outfall pipes that extend about 1.5 kilometers offshore. The system was built between 1896 and 1920. It’s falling apart, but the sewage keeps flowing.

More than 80% of the city is connected to a network of over 250 kilometers of sewer pipes feeding into 13 pumping stations. Those stations channel wastewater to two deep-sea outfalls at Mutwal and Wellawatte, dumping roughly 30 million gallons of sewage into the ocean daily. The pipes crack, leak and occasionally collapse underground where nobody notices until a road caves in. Officials admit the system is failing but say rebuilding it isn’t practical. There’s no space, and the sewage has to go somewhere while construction happens.

The rest of the country isn’t doing much better. According to the UN Joint Monitoring Program, less than 3% of rural households and only 12% of urban households discharge wastewater into sewers. The overwhelming majority, 95% countrywide, use septic tanks. The waste sits in below-ground storage until a gulley-bowser truck comes to pump it out. But there are only about 20 fecal sludge treatment plants in the entire country, many of them too far away to be practical. Hauling sludge long distances costs money, so illegal dumping happens. In Colombo, most of the sludge just gets discharged into the sewer system, which dumps it straight into the ocean.

The contamination is measurable. Studies found severe fecal pollution along the west coast from Negombo down to Mirissa, driven by direct sewage disposal and runoff from hotels and homes. Fecal coliform bacteria showed up in practically every coastal waterway tested. Pathogenic Salmonella bacteria were detected in the Dehiwala canal and Rathmalana areas. This isn’t theoretical. The water is contaminated.

The Negombo lagoon illustrates the problem. It’s an important ecological and economic resource just north of Colombo, but it’s also a dumping ground. Local settlements, municipal sewage and the tourist industry all contribute wastewater. Studies estimate that nearly 250 kilograms of raw feces get released into the lagoon every day through drainage channels. About half of the solid waste generated nearby isn’t even collected, it just gets dumped illegally into the surrounding environment. Testing at seven sewage entry points found that the northern part of the lagoon exceeds safe coliform thresholds for both swimming and seafood consumption. E. coli is present. People swim there anyway. They eat oysters harvested from those waters.

The public health implications are direct. Fecal contamination leads to gastroenteritis and other waterborne diseases. Yet Sri Lanka has no regulatory framework for monitoring bathing sites like Mount Lavinia beach despite the documented pollution. People just assume the water is fine because it looks clear.

More than 60% of Sri Lanka’s industrial enterprises are located along the coast. Many of them discharge effluents directly into the sea with little or no treatment. The Western and Southern provinces, home to over 40% of the population, pack fisheries, tourism operations, hotels, restaurants and commercial businesses along a coastline that’s steadily degrading. The tourism industry markets pristine beaches while simultaneously contributing to their contamination through unregulated wastewater discharge. The contradiction doesn’t seem to bother anyone in charge.

Attempts to fix the problem have gone nowhere. The Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Project launched in 2010 with financing from the Asian Development Bank. The goal was to upgrade infrastructure and improve services for 838,000 residents. Implementation has been slow. Contracts have stalled. The fundamental problem persists. Colombo Municipal Council officials acknowledge the system is old and failing but say the constraints are too complex to overcome.

This isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s economic. The fishing industry depends on clean water. Tourism depends on clean beaches. Both are being undermined by the same sewage that nobody wants to talk about. It’s a public health crisis exposing millions to disease. And it’s a governance failure reflecting decades of inadequate investment and absent regulation. Invisible infrastructure doesn’t win elections, so it doesn’t get funded.

The sewage flows every day. The pipes keep cracking. The treatment plants that should exist don’t. The regulations that could stop illegal dumping aren’t enforced. And the coastal waters that millions depend on are quietly becoming contaminated. This crisis doesn’t announce itself with sirens or headlines. It’s slow, silent and already here.
Feature Image Credits : vertexeng.com

The journey of sea turtles along Sri Lanka’s shores

The Pearl Protectors — Mon, 25 May 2026 07:53:25 +0000

By : Aamina Gaffoor

Along the golden coastlines of Sri Lanka, a quiet yet extraordinary journey unfolds beneath the moonlight. Each year, sea turtles return to the very beaches where they were born, guided by instinct. After travelling thousands of kilometres across vast oceans, they arrive at these familiar shores to begin another cycle of life. However, this remarkable natural phenomenon is increasingly under threat in today’s rapidly changing world.

Sri Lanka is home to five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles: the Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Olive Ridley, and the majestic Leatherback. These ancient mariners have existed for millions of years, surviving immense environmental changes. Yet today, they face challenges unlike ever before. Their long migratory journeys across the Indian Ocean are fraught with danger, but their instinct to return to Sri Lanka’s shores remains unwavering. Beaches such as Kosgoda and Rekawa have become vital nesting grounds, where turtles come ashore under the cover of darkness to lay their eggs.

The nesting process itself is both delicate and fascinating. Female turtles carefully select suitable sites, digging deep nests in the sand where they lay around 100 eggs at a time. Once completed, they gently cover the nest, concealing it from potential predators before slowly returning to the ocean. Weeks later, the beach comes alive as tiny hatchlings emerge from beneath the sand. Guided by the natural glow of the horizon, they instinctively move towards the sea. Yet this journey is perilous, and only a small fraction survives, facing predators, exhaustion, and environmental obstacles from the moment they are born.

Today, these remarkable creatures are increasingly at risk due to human activity. Coastal development has reduced the availability of safe nesting sites, destroying and disrupting natural habitats. Meanwhile, ocean pollution, particularly plastic waste, poses a silent but deadly threat. Turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their primary food sources. When ingested, plastic can cause severe internal blockages and toxic poisoning, which are often fatal. In some areas, eggs continue to be illegally poached, further threatening future populations.

Artificial lighting along beaches presents another critical challenge. Hatchlings rely on the natural light of the horizon to guide them to the sea. However, lights from hotels, streets, and buildings disorient them, leading them inland instead. This confusion makes them more vulnerable to dehydration, predation, and death. What may seem like a minor human convenience can have devastating consequences for these fragile creatures.

Climate change further intensifies these threats. Rising global temperatures affect the sand in which eggs incubate, and this temperature determines the sex of hatchlings. Warmer sand produces more females, potentially creating long-term population imbalances. In addition, rising sea levels and increasingly intense coastal storms wash away nests before eggs can hatch, reducing the number of turtles that successfully reach the ocean each year.

Despite these challenges, there is hope. Conservation efforts across Sri Lanka are making a meaningful impact. Turtle hatcheries have been established to protect eggs from predators and human interference, increasing the chances of survival for hatchlings. Community-led initiatives are also playing a vital role. Many coastal communities that once relied on turtle eggs for income are now actively engaged in conservation, helping to protect nesting sites and raising awareness about the importance of these species.

The journey of sea turtles along Sri Lanka’s shores is a powerful reminder of nature’s resilience. It also highlights the delicate balance between human activity and the natural world. Protecting these creatures is not merely about saving a single species; it is about preserving the health of our oceans and safeguarding biodiversity for future generations.

Each of us has a role to play. Simple actions, such as reducing plastic use, supporting conservation efforts, and spreading awareness, can collectively make a significant difference. The survival of sea turtles depends not only on large-scale initiatives but also on the everyday choices we make. If we fail to protect these extraordinary creatures today, their ancient journeys may one day come to an end. However, with collective effort, we can ensure that future generations continue to witness this remarkable cycle of life.
Feature Image Credits : theguardian.com

Kalpitiya Peninsula’s Plastic Problem

The Pearl Protectors — Sun, 17 May 2026 19:30:00 +0000

By: Olivia Neilson

Travel writing on the Kalpitiya Peninsula promises a “sandy, palm tree paradise”, sheltered from the rapidly developing tourism of Sri Lanka’s Southern beaches. The guidebooks highlight the area’s rich marine biodiversity, with Sri Lanka’s biggest coral reef (Bar Reef), and dolphin and whale watching which beats the crowds. The Kalpitiya Peninsula has all of this, but there is one thing the guidebooks don’t tell you. Plastic pollution is rife in the area. In between spotting whales, groups of spinner dolphins, a turtle, and even a ray on a morning boat ride, plastic bottles floated about as stark reminders of the human impact on marine life. The high winds in the peninsula might attract world class kitesurfing, but they also put the world’s plastic problem in plain sight. A beach in Kudawa is littered as far as the eye can see with plastic. The beach resembles more of a dumping ground than a natural habitat. And then there are the micro-plastics, the inconspicuous nurdles that litter the shores and leave “severe and long-lasting consequences for ecosystems, fishing industries, and coastal communities.” Dozens of government-paid workers sieve the beach in Kappalady, attempting to mitigate the tiny toxic nightmare for marine life.

In an eco-friendly beach resort called Elements in Kappalady, guests are encouraged to help with the daily beach cleans. It’s easy to fill up a huge bag of plastic within a few hundred meters on the beach. Every morning the staff go out, every night more plastic is blown across. “It’s all about consumption”, says Sylvie, one of the owners of Elements. Sylvie passionately tells me the world’s over consumption is at the heart of the problem. They can keep doing beach cleans, but more needs to be done to tackle the root cause. But whilst our conversation starts from a feeling of helplessness, of plastic drifting over from India and the world’s obsession with fast fashion and plastic wrapped goods, Sylvie stays hopeful. “We have to start with ourselves,” she tells me. Elements uses charcoal to filter the drinking water and stay plastic free in the rooms and restaurant. Whilst there can be a distrust of unbottled water, due to local issues with waste management and water supplies, Sylvie and husband Marcel show that an eco-friendly hotel is possible. They run sustainability workshops with their staff, and would like to raise more awareness within the community of the changes we can make as individuals which can have a positive impact on the planet.

With dolphin watching boat tours in the Peninsular attracting more and more tourists, Ukrainian artist couple Dina Dubrovnik and Kay Artishock, wanted to draw attention to the negligence of tourists who leave their plastic behind afterwards. In 2018, they created a Trash Dolphin sculpture from local beach cleanups. Local fishermen who helped with the sculpture commented, “Sadly most of the time it is our local tourists from all over Sri Lanka who throw their garbage on our beaches after their dolphin watching trips.” As well as plastic waste, ghost nets (deadly discarded fishing gear) are also a huge problem for marine life. As the WWF state in an article from 2019, “Ghost nets don’t only catch fish; they entangle sea turtles, dolphins and porpoises, birds, sharks, seals and more […] And ghost nets harm coral reefs too – breaking corals, exposing them to disease, and even blocking the reeds from needed sunlight.” Washed up fishing nets can be seen on the shores of the Kalpitiya peninsula, but the ghost nets are also sadly found in Bar Reef. Last year, a huge amount of ex-fishing debris was found there. The problem is not going away.

Sylvie and Marcel remarked they had seen noticeable bleaching in Bar Reef in the past eight years. Sylvie showed me a video of the reef her friend had made whilst diving, “there’s nothing left,” she lamented. Whilst Sri Lanka’s rich marine life is a huge draw for visitors from all over the world, there is a deep irony to eco-tourism which can do more to harm marine life than protect them. From the diesel chugging boats and plastic bottles on dolphin watching tours to the plastic straws poking out of King coconuts. But the plastic problem on the beaches in the Kalpitiya Peninsula is a fierce reminder that it all starts with our own habits and decisions, and thanks to eco-friendly resorts like Elements, being a plastic-free tourist is possible.
Feature Image Credit: travel2unlimited.com

Silent of Heatwaves: How Rising Ocean Temperatures are Reshaping Marine Eco-Systems

The Pearl Protectors — Sun, 03 May 2026 20:25:00 +0000

By: Thusitha Bulathgama

While the world watches rising temperatures in land, a more dangerous heatwaves is unfolding beneath the ocean’s surface. Marine heatwaves are defined by the duration and intensity of abnormally high ocean temperatures. Sea surface temperatures is one of the most common methods used by scientists to measure ocean warming. These heatwaves are often caused by hot, dry and windless weather conditions that prevent warmer surface water from mixing with cooler water below. When warm sea surface temperatures persists for at least five days and exceed a threshold beyond the normal range, they are classified as marine heatwaves. During El Niño years, when excessive heat and dry conditions continue, marine heatwaves are more likely to occur. This issue should not be ignored, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that since 1970s, human activity has been the primary cause of rising ocean temperatures. Therefore, as human we must pay greater attention and take immediate action to address this issue.

Marine heat waves have severe impacts on marine life. Many of the heat waves that caused extensive coral bleaching and reef deterioration occurred between 2006 and 2015. In 2021, marine heat waves affected nearly 60% of the world’s ocean surface at least one. According to the United Nations Environment Program, if ocean continues to warm, all of the world’s coral reefs could bleach by the end of the century. In addition, heat waves slow the growth of some species, active deadly viruses in infected oysters, and stress mobile spices such as shellfish, oysters and abalone. Marine heatwaves place immense pressure on marine ecosystems, causing coral bleaching and mass deaths fish, marine mammal and seabirds. They can also intensify hurricanes and toxic algal blooms. The duration, timing and depth of temperature changes are key factors that determine how severe these effects are in different regions. Marine heatwaves also leads to instability in the food chain, where smaller species may grow out of control while predators lose their prey. For instance, many marine organisms lose their habitats and breeding grounds due to the decline of key species such as coral reefs. As result, the structure and function of marine ecosystems begin to change, leading to long-term instability. These cascading effects demonstrate that rising ocean temperatures are not isolated events but powerful forces reshaping life beneath the surface.

In the Sri Lankan context, one of the biggest threats facing coral reef is rising ocean temperature. As mentioned, coral reefs are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and when there is a increases in temperature can severely impact their health. Additionally, the country has experienced repeated coral bleaching incidents, particularly during global climate anomalies such as El Niño in 1998, 2016 and more recently 2024, highlighting a troubling trend of increasing marine heatwaves. Such as events not only reduce biodiversity but also disrupt coastal livelihoods that depend on healthy reef ecosystems. Moreover, marine ecosystems in Sri Lanka remain under stress due to the combined effects of ocean warming and acidification which slow recovery rates. This reflects broader global patterns of ocean-driven ecological transformation. If these trends continues, the long-term sustainability of Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity and fisheries sector will be at significant risk.

In conclusion, marine heatwaves are changing ocean ecosystems in significant and concerning ways. The impacts extend far beyond individual species and threaten the overall balance of marine life, from coral bleaching to disrupted food webs. As climate change intensifies, these hidden changes will have serious effects on biodiversity, fisheries and human livelihoods. The future of our seas depends on consistent and immediate action to address rising global temperatures, making it critical to recognize the urgency of this issue.
Featured Image Credits : www.ccwa

The Nets Changing Our Seas

The Pearl Protectors — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:06:00 +0000

By: Saduni Rukshala

Sri Lanka’s coastal waters are rich in biodiversity and are vital to both local communities and the fishing sector. Shallow coastal waters are especially important as they provide habitats for many marine species and contribute significantly to local fisheries. However, these fragile marine ecosystems are increasingly being affected by intensified fishing activities.

If the ocean provides life and livelihoods for coastal communities, what happens when fishing methods begin to harm the very ecosystems that support them? One such method is the purse seine net. Purse seine nets are large fishing nets used to surround schools of fish in deep waters before the bottom is drawn together like a drawstring purse, which is how the method gets its name. While this technique allows fishermen to catch large quantities of fish efficiently, its use in shallow coastal waters can disturb sensitive marine habitats. It may also lead to the accidental capture of non-target species, including sea turtles, juvenile fish and small reef fish that play an essential role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems.

Using purse seine nets in shallow waters can create significant environmental impacts. Coastal areas often contain coral reefs, seagrass beds and important breeding and nursery grounds for many marine species. Removing large numbers of juvenile fish before they mature can reduce future fish populations and threaten the long-term sustainability of fisheries. These environmental impacts can reduce biodiversity and disrupt the natural balance of marine ecosystems.

Shallow coastal ecosystems are highly interconnected, meaning that damage to one habitat can affect many other species. Coral reefs and seagrass beds provide shelter, food and breeding areas for fish, crabs, shrimp and other marine organisms. In Sri Lanka, coral reefs are especially important because they maintain fish populations by protecting young fish until they are mature enough to survive in open waters and they also help protect coastlines from erosion. Seagrass beds are equally valuable, as they act as nursery grounds for juvenile fish and feeding areas for animals such as sea turtles.

When purse seine nets are used too close to coral reefs and seagrass beds, these habitats can be disturbed, and the effects may spread throughout the entire ecosystem. If juvenile fish are removed before they can mature, there may not be as many fish available for larger species that depend on them for food. Over time, this can affect the marine food chain and reduce biodiversity. Repeated fishing in the same shallow coastal areas can also make it more difficult for habitats to recover naturally. As a result, marine ecosystems may become more susceptible to further threats including pollution, habitat destruction and climate change.

Recent research on purse seine fisheries highlights the importance of improving bycatch management to reduce environmental harm. Studies suggest that preventing unwanted catches before nets are deployed is more effective than trying to manage them after capture. Better monitoring, careful selection of fishing areas and responsible handling practices can help reduce the accidental capture of non-target species and improve the survival of released fish. Such approaches support more sustainable fishing methods and help limit damage to marine ecosystems.

In response to these concerns, regulations have been introduced in Sri Lanka to control certain fishing practices in coastal waters. These measures aim to reduce environmental damage, prevent overfishing and protect the livelihoods of communities that depend on healthy marine resources. However, the success of these regulations depends on proper enforcement, monitoring, and responsible fishing practices.

Purse seine nets play an important role in commercial fishing, but their use in shallow coastal waters can create serious environmental challenges. Protecting sensitive marine habitats and reducing bycatch are essential steps toward maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems. Fishing remains a vital source of income for many coastal communities and sustainable practices are necessary to balance economic needs with environmental protection. Sustainable management of marine resources is essential to ensure that Sri Lanka’s oceans remain productive and environmentally healthy in the years ahead.

Featured Image Credit : egersundtral

කැස්බෑ-මිතුරෝ: කැස්බෑවන් සහ ලංකික ජනයා අතර සම්බන්ධතාවයේ විකසනය

The Pearl Protectors — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0000

රෝජී ඒකනායක

කණ කැස්බෑවා විය සිදුරෙන් අහස බලනවා වගේ” වැනි ජනප්‍රිය කියමන් තුළින් පවා ඇඟවෙන්නේ අතීතයේ සිට කැස්බෑවා යන සත්වයා පිළිබඳ ලංකාවාසී ජනතාවට යම් අවබෝදයක් තිබී ඇති බවයි. වර්තමානය වන විට මිනිසුන් සහ කැස්බෑවන් අතර තිබූ සම්බන්ධතාවයේ සැලකිය යුතු වෙනසක් සිදු වී ඇති නමුත් අදටත් මෙම සත්ත්ව කොට්ඨාසයට විශාල ඓතිහාසික, සංස්කෘතික, සමාජයීය මෙන්ම ආර්ථිකමය වැදගත්කමක් පවතී.

ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අවට මුහුදු තීයර තම වාසස්ථානය කරගත් මුහුදු කැස්බෑ විශේෂ පහක් සිටින අතර පුරාවිද්‍යාත්මක සාක්ෂි වලට අනුව අනුරාධපුර යුගයේ පටන් ම ඇතැම් ජන කොටස් මෙම මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් ආහාරයට ගැනීම පිණිස දඩයම් කර ඇත. එසේම ඉතිහාසඥයන් පෙන්වා දෙන්නේ මෙම සතුන්ගේ අලංකාර කටුව භාවිතා කර විවිධ නිෂ්පාදන සෑදීමට ද එකල මිනිසුන් පුරුදු වී සිටි බවයි. බුලත් සහ දුම්කොළ හෙප්පු, ආභරණ පෙට්ටි, ලේඛන පුවරු, පනා වැනි විවිධ භාණ්ඩ රැසක් සෑදීමට ‘පොතු කැස්බෑවා’ (Hawksbill Turtle) නමැති කැස්බෑ විශේෂයේ කටු ප්‍රධාන වශයෙන් භාවිතා කර ඇති බවට සාක්ෂි හමු වී තිබේ. කැස්බෑවාගේ කටුව ගලවා දැමූ විට එය නැවත ජනනය වන බවට එකල මතයක් පැවතී ඇති බැවින් කටුවෙන් වෙන් කළ කැස්බෑවන් බොහෝ විට නැවත මුහුදට මුදා හැර තිබේ.

රෝමන් අධිරාජ්‍ය වැනි විදේශ රාජ්‍යන් සමග වෙළඳාම් කිරීමේදී කැස්බෑ නිෂ්පාදන සඳහා විශාල ඉල්ලුමක් තිබු බවත් හෙළි දැක්වේ. එසේම තිස්සමහාරාමය, අකුරුගොඩ ප්‍රදේශයන්ගෙන් හමු වී ඇති පුරාණ කාසි සමූහයකම ඉබි සහ කැස්බෑ රූප නිරූපණය වී ඇති අතර ඒ තුළින් පෙනී යන්නේ අප රටේ නාවික හා වාණිජමය ක්ෂේත්‍රයේ සංඛේතයක් ලෙසත් මුහුදු කැස්බෑවුන්ට සුවිශේෂී ස්ථානයක් හිමිව තිබු බවයි.

වර්තමානය වන විට මෙම මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් සංචාරක ක්ෂේත්‍රය තුළ ප්‍රධාන ඉපයුම් මාර්ගයක් ලෙස යොදාගෙන ඇත. ඒ අතර විවිධ සිහිවටන, ඇඳුම් පැළඳුම්, ආභරණ වැනි දෑ සකස් කිරීමේදී ප්‍රධාන සංකල්පයක් ලෙස මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් යොදා ගන්නා අතරම මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් දැක බලා ගැනීමේ අරමුණින්ම වෙරළබඩ කලාප කරා ඇදී එන සංචාරකයින් ද බොහෝ සේ දැක ගත හැකිය. එම ඉල්ලුමට ප්‍රතිචාරයක් ලෙස මෑත කාලයේ ‘කැස්බෑ සංරක්ෂණ මධ්‍යස්ථාන’ නමින් ප්‍රචලිත වූ ව්‍යාපාර රැසක් ද බිහි වී ඇත. කෙසේ වෙතත් මෙවැනි ව්‍යාපාර තුළින් කැස්බෑවන්ගේ ස්වභාවික ජීවන රටාවට නිසැකයෙන්ම බාධා එල්ල වෙමින් පවතී.

විවිධ කාලගුණික, දේශගුණික විපර්යාස මෙන්ම මිනිස් ක්‍රියාකාරකම් හේතුවෙන්ද අද වන විට කැස්බෑවන් වඳවී යාමේ තර්ජනයට ලක් වී ඇත. මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් දඩයම් කිරීම, අහඹු ලෙස මාළු දැල් වැනි ධීවර උපාංග වලට හසු වීම, ජෙලි මසුන් යැයි රැවටී පොලිතීන් වැනි කැලි කසළ ආහාරයට ගැනීම නිසා ඔවුන්ගේ සෞඛ්‍ය තත්ත්වයන් පිරිහීම, වාසස්ථාන විනාශ වීම වැනි දෑ හේතුවෙන් කැස්බෑ ජනගහණය තව දුරටත් හීන වී යාම විශාල ගැටළුවක්ව පවතී. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ වන සත්ව හා වෘක්ෂලතා ආඥා පනත වැනි නීති රීති මගින් කැස්බෑවන්ට නීතිමය වශයෙන් ආරක්ෂාව සපයා ඇති නමුත් ප්‍රායෝගිකව මෙම සතුන් රැක ගැනීම දුෂ්කර කාර්යක් බවට පත්ව ඇත. ස්වභාවධර්මය විසින් ලොවට තිළිණ වූ මෙම අපූරු සතුන් ආරක්ෂා කිරීමට මෙන්ම අනාගත පරපුරටද ඔවුන් එලෙසින්ම දායද කිරීමට අප කෙසේ හෝ මුහුදු කැස්බෑවන් සං‍රක්ෂණය කිරීම සිදු කළ යුතුව ඇත.

ඡායාරූප: trailoka.com

The Lucrative industry on swimming with whales.

The Pearl Protectors — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 18:54:00 +0000

By: Dilshani Maralanda

Swimming with whales is a parallel tourism activity which operates alongside with watching whales. However, many countries don’t give legal permissions for this activity, considering the possible negative impacts it can cause on both the whales and humans. But over time, this activity has become popular among the tourists around the world.

From the warm waters of Tonga to the biodiverse coastline of Ningaloo Reef, carefully organized swim-with-whale tours attract many tourists each year. These tours are not like traditional whale watching; they offer the opportunity to enter the whales’ world. So, the tour packages are often expensive, marketed as limited, small-group, eco-friendly experiences. The result? A multi-million-dollar niche industry that continues to expand.

The profitability of swimming with whales depends on several factors. First, it takes advantage of rising demand for eco-tourism. Nowadays travelers seek real world experiences rather than sightseeing. Swimming next to a whale combines both adventure and connection with nature and it is a powerful combination which tourists are willing to pay for.

Second, the industry provides employment opportunities for coastal communities. Boat operators, snorkel instructors, photographers, and hospitality workers all benefit from it. Hotels, restaurants and transport services experience increased demand during the whale migrating seasons. Therefore, it provides higher foreign exchange earnings for small developing islands.

Sri Lanka is already a popular destination for whale watching among the tourists worldwide. In Sri Lanka’s waters, blue whale and sperm whale are most commonly observed. It is one of the hotspots in the world where thesepecies can be observed relatively close to shore. However, n Sri Lanka swimming with whales is banned under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and the Sea Mammals Observation, Regulation, and Control Regulation No.1 of 2012. Therefore, in Sri Lanka, no one can engage in activities such as swimming with whales without proper legal permission. Even a vessel that takes tourists just to watch the whales need to take a license specifically for that from the Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation. And there are a set of conditions to obey when operating the whale watching tours. And these conditions prohibit tourists engaged in watching whales getting into the sea. According to the laws, the interpretation of these rules and engaging in those activities will be considered as potentially injuring and endangering those organisms and these are cognizable offences and offenders can be arrested without a warrant.

Even though swimming with whales is illegal in Sri Lanka, some operators have begun to promote it in response to growing demand. Most of the tourists are not aware that swimming with whales is an illegal activity in Sri Lanka. So, most of tour operators mislead those tourists by presenting themselves as licensed and authorized despite the Department of Wildlife Conservation having clearly refused to issue such permits. And also, some online travel research companies promote illegal swimming with whales activities in Sri Lanka without considering its’ legal conditions. Charging higher amounts from tourists avoiding taxes and engaging in swim with whales activities cause significant revenue losses for the Sri Lankan government and also damage Sri Lanka’s reputation for sustainable tourism.

Scientists and several organizations have conducted multiple studies regarding the unregulated swim-with-whale operations, highlighting a range of concerns. Close human interaction can disturb natural behaviors, especially during migration, feeding, or breeding periods. Sudden approaches, engine noise, or swimmers entering the water may cause whales to dive deeper, change direction, or expend additional energy. On a larger scale, repeated disturbances could potentially impact long-term health and survival.

Therefore, both the tour operators and the tourists should have a responsibility regarding their actions. Tourists should be responsible of the activities they engage in and avoid operators who approach closer to the whales disregarding the distance limits, guarantee sightings, do not provide safety briefings, allow swimming or snorkeling with whales, or claim to have all necessary permissions. They should also avoid operators who start from non-dedicated locations such as beaches or river mouths. Tour operators, on the other hand, should maintain safe distances, approach whales carefully, respect their natural behaviors, limit viewing time, and avoid chasing or circling them etc.

The real problem is not whether swimming with whales is lucrative, because it clearly is. The real problem is how it is managed, whether it is done sustainably or not. If this industry is well regulated and conducted responsibly, it hastential to support coastal economies, create awareness about marine conservation, and turn whales into living treasures worth more alive than exploited. If poorly managed, however, it can stress, injure and disturb whale populations, ultimately damaging them.

In conclusione real value of this industry does not lie entirely in its financial returns. Its future depends on protecting whales and preserving the fragile ecosystems they live in. If profit and conservation can move forward together, swimming with whales can continue to inspireeople today and for many generations to come.
Feature Image Credits: myceylonadventures

Change the Sea by Changing the Menu

The Pearl Protectors — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:54:26 +0000

By: Sara Sadoon

Seafood is so embedded in daily life in Sri Lanka that it often goes unquestioned. Fish appears on breakfast tables and evening plates, in home kitchens and hotel dining rooms alike. It provides more than half of the country’s animal protein intake, nearly three times the global average, and sustains over a million people directly, with several million more connected through processing, transport and trade. In a country so closely tied to the ocean, what we choose to eat shapes more than our meals. It is a signal.

Globally, seafood is the most traded food commodity, feeding more than three billion people. Yet the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that most marine fish stocks are now fully exploited or overfished. Industrial fishing, excessive bycatch and poorly managed aquaculture have pushed many species beyond their natural limits and placed ecosystems under strain. This pressure is already visible: both locally and globally, high demand has driven extraction to levels the ocean is struggling to sustain. Writing for Renewable Matter, Tosca Ballerini draws on UN Trade and Development data to describe a rapid expansion of maritime industries, often referred to as a Blue Acceleration, where economic growth races ahead while ecological and social costs are left behind. These costs are most keenly felt by coastal and small-scale fishing communities, even as the benefits of trade accumulate elsewhere. While structural solutions such as treaties, enforcement and regulation remain essential, they address only part of the story.

The other part lies much closer to home. Consumer behaviour, long treated as incidental, is increasingly recognised as a decisive force in shaping seafood systems. The FAO has argued that consumers are not merely end users of food systems but co-creators of them. Choices made at fish counters, in supermarkets and on restaurant menus send signals that ripple along the supply chain, determining what is caught, farmed and sold.

In practice, this means ordinary decisions carry consequences. Consumer preferences decide which species face the greatest pressure and which are allowed to recover, guiding what vendors prioritise and what suppliers invest in. When expectations remain narrow or unexamined, the same stocks are repeatedly overexploited. When abundance is assumed regardless of season or origin, extraction rises to meet that assumption. These patterns are not abstract forces beyond our control; they are shaped daily by what consumers consistently accept. Recognising this connection turns awareness into responsibility.

Hospitality adds another, highly visible layer. Menus do more than list dishes; they shape taste, status and expectation. When hotels and restaurants feature seasonal species or promote lesser-known local varieties, they influence trends and social norms. When consumers actively ask for transparency and information about sourcing, these establishments are more inclined to align with sustainable practices. Over time, such shifts can normalise a broader, more flexible approach to seafood consumption. Social expectations often move faster than legislation, especially when diners associate responsible choices with quality and care rather than compromise.

Amid these shifts, resources are emerging that make responsible choices easier to navigate. One example is the Lanka Environment Fund’s Practical Guide to Purchasing Responsible Seafood in Sri Lanka. Rather than offering a rigid checklist, it frames responsibility as a habit of attention. It helps households, chefs and retailers translate awareness into action, encouraging questions about where, when and how fish are caught, attention to season and size, proper storage and reduction of waste. It also underscores the value of buying from trusted vendors and embracing a wider range of species, turning sustainability from an abstract ideal into an everyday practice.

Changing the sea by changing the menu will not, on its own, resolve the complex challenges facing marine ecosystems. But it reframes responsibility in a way that is immediate and accessible. In Sri Lanka, where seafood is both sustenance and livelihood, consumer choices are not peripheral. They are part of the system itself. When diners, shoppers and chefs recognise their influence, responsibility begins at the table and travels outward, shaping the future of the ocean one meal at a time.
Feature Image Credits: d2evkimvhatqav.cloudfront.net

When the Ocean Lost Its Lights: Climate Change and the Shrinking Photic Zone

The Pearl Protectors — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:06:00 +0000

By: Thusitha Bulathgama

Did you know that the ocean is a living organism?
In some places, it absorbs oxygen, while in others it releases it.

This natural process happens through a combination of biological and physical processes. One of the main drivers of this process is sunlight. Every day, sunlight enters the ocean surface and feeds microscopic plants that support entire marine ecosystems and help regulate Earth’s climate.

However, as climate change accelerates, this life-giving light is slowly fading. The ocean is not only warming up, but also growing darker as the sunlit photic zone continues to shrink under the pressure of a changing planet.

The “Photic Zone”, also known as the sunlight zone, is the uppermost layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates deeply enough to support photosynthesis. In this zone, organisms such as phytoplankton and algae use sunlight to produce energy. This zone usually extends from the surface to about 200 meters, although its depth varies depending on the clarity of the water.

Why this zone matters is because it affects the base of the ocean life itself. Most of all marine organisms are fed by phytoplankton, which are microscopic plants that are aided in growing by sunlight. Fishing communities may suffer if there is less light because fish and other marine life will have less food. A darker ocean can also worsen climate change. Phytoplankton play a key role in producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. When sunlight becomes limited, these processes weaken. Over time, reduced light can change which species survive and make ocean ecosystems less stable.

According to a recent study conducted by the University of Plymouth, it highlighted that between 2003 and 2022, around 21% of the global ocean became darker. Although the reasons for ocean darkening vary by region, consider the facts behind it: agricultural runoff, urban development and heavy rainfall allow mud and other fertilizer to enter the ocean, becoming key facts. This leads to algal blooms that block sunlight in the open ocean and climate change affects plankton populations, water temperature and nutrient availability, increasing water cloudiness and reducing light penetration. Furthermore, major changes in ocean darkening have been observed in the Arctic, Antarctic, and other regions influenced by the Gulf Stream.

As the photic zone shrinks, marine life is forced into shallower waters, increasing competition for resources and disrupting ecosystems. These changes affect not only marine life but also humans. A weakened ocean food web threatens global fisheries and food security, while reduced biological activity may limit the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

The ocean is more delicate and active than we often realize. Ocean darkening is more than a scientific finding; it is a clear warning that Earth’s systems are under stress. Protecting the photic zone requires better land and ocean management, reduced pollution, and strong climate action.

Now is the time to pay closer attention, not only to protect marine life but to secure a livable future for humanity.

Feature Image Credits: shutterstock

From ratification to action: SL and the High Seas Treaty

The Pearl Protectors — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:05:08 +0000

By: Sara Sadoon

On 16 September last year (2025), Sri Lanka made its commitment to ocean conservation official by ratifying the United Nations High Seas Treaty, formally known as the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction).

In doing so, it joins a growing group of nations working to safeguard marine biodiversity in the vast reaches of the ocean that lie beyond any single country’s jurisdiction. It’s a significant move, especially for an island nation whose identity and economy are so deeply tied to the sea.

That commitment gained added weight when the treaty entered into force on 17 January this year. As the first legally binding agreement dedicated to the high seas, it establishes a long-overdue framework for managing international waters, which cover nearly half the planet and have long lacked effective oversight. The treaty addresses marine genetic resources, marine protected areas, and environmental impact assessments, while supporting developing countries through capacity building and technology transfer.

With implementation now underway, States are laying the groundwork through the UN’s BBNJ Preparatory Commission (PrepCom). Two sessions have already taken place, with a third scheduled for March, ahead of the first Conference of the Parties (COP1) within a year, where procedures, permanent bodies, and early priorities will be set.

For Sri Lanka, ratification is only the beginning. Recent reports in Groundviews indicate that despite being a maritime nation, the country currently protects less than 1% of its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone through marine protected areas, a figure that is difficult to reconcile with the ecological richness and economic value of its ocean spaces.

Additionally, marine protection has historically received limited attention in national planning and policy discussions. Meanwhile, the country is still reeling from nurdle disasters, and plastic and polythene pollution continue flowing unchecked into coastal ecosystems. Yet, at a time when global interest and funding in conservation are peaking, Sri Lanka has a rare chance to break from the status quo and chart a new course for its marine future.

In saying this, the path forward isn’t complicated, but it does require intent. Other nations, such as Samoa and the Philippines, have shown how early momentum can be built by hosting national workshops. These gatherings help familiarise agencies with the treaty’s obligations, clarify institutional roles, and identify legal and policy gaps. They also bring together scientists, civil society, policymakers, and private sector players, all of whom have a role in turning the treaty into practice.

Domestically, Sri Lanka must begin reviewing and strengthening its legal frameworks to align with the treaty, particularly on environmental assessments and access to marine genetic resources. Regionally, as an Indian Ocean maritime nation, it can also use its diplomatic voice to encourage continued ratification and cooperation, while the treaty’s institutions are being shaped.

The High Seas Treaty is a rare second chance. With the agreement now in force and its institutions taking shape, Sri Lanka has an opportunity not only to make up for lost time, but to lead. The question is no longer whether action is needed, but whether it will come quickly and boldly enough.

Feature Image Credits: earthshotprize.org