SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF INLAND FISHERY: A CASE OF FISHERMEN OF UDAWALAWE RESERVOIR, SRI LANKA

Abstract

Inland fishery plays a significant role in improving the food security and livelihood of developing nations in the world. However, there is a lack of scientific studies conducted about the socio-economic importance of inland fishery in Sri Lanka. Thus, this study was conducted to identify the socioeconomic importance of inland fishery in the Udawalawe reservoir. A sample of 45 fishermen was selected from the fishermen who practice fishing in the study area by simple random sampling technique. A questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were conducted as the primary data collection methods from January to March 2022. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. As per the findings, job opportunities, affordability to expand the production of inland fish and its based products and ability to access and utilize of inland fish and its based products for fishermen households as a nutritive source of food consider the key dimensions that show economic important of the inland fishery. While the buildup of strong linkage between fishermen acts as the key dimension of the social importance of inland fishery