Sri Lanka : Managing Coastal Natural Wealth
Coastal areas are essential to Sri Lanka’s economic development, accounting for the highest concentration of population and economic activity. Sandy beaches, dunes, lagoons, estuaries, fresh water marshes, minerals, mangroves and reefs enrich some...
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| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/935641540997593260/Sri-Lanka-Managing-Coastal-Natural-Wealth http://hdl.handle.net/10986/30860 |
| Summary: | Coastal areas are essential to Sri
Lanka’s economic development, accounting for the highest
concentration of population and economic activity. Sandy
beaches, dunes, lagoons, estuaries, fresh water marshes,
minerals, mangroves and reefs enrich some 1,600 km of
coastline that surrounds the “pearl shaped” island.
Approximately 33 percent of Sri Lanka’s population lives in
coastal areas that support diverse livelihoods, from fishing
to tourism to manufacturing and modern urban services. The
coastal ecosystems are uniquely important as they enable
multiple human activities.Among all economic activities,
tourism and fisheries are the most dependent on the natural
resources of the coast. Together, these two sectors generate
10 percent of Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings and
account for 6.7 percent of employment. Fisheries make an
important contribution to food security, employment, and
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), contributing close to 4.5
percent of Sri Lanka’s total export revenue, with further
significant growth potential. Nearly 90 percent of the total
national fish catch comes from the marine and coastal
fishery, and it supports the livelihoods of many artisanal
fishermen and those who access or are in the value chain of
the large pelagic fishery within the 200 nm Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ). Along the coast, 20 formal fish harbors
accommodate more than 4,000 single and multi-day fishing
vessels. The fisheries sector is a major source of
employment, providing approximately 500,000 formal and
informal jobs. |
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