Sri Lankan freshwater fishers keen to turn invasive species threat into an opportunity – Fine Day 102.3

Report on the Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact of Invasive Snakehead Fish in Deduru Oya, Sri Lanka

Executive Summary

An invasive snakehead fish species is disrupting the ecosystem of the Deduru Oya reservoir, threatening local biodiversity and the livelihoods of fishing communities. This report examines the challenges posed by the species and the community-led initiatives to mitigate the threat, aligning these efforts with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ecological and Economic Disruption

The introduction of the snakehead fish, an aggressive apex predator, has had significant negative consequences for the region. The species, likely released from the ornamental fish trade, has found an ideal breeding ground in the reservoir with no natural predators.

• Ecological Impact: The fish’s aggressive feeding habits have led to a severe decline in native fish and shellfish populations, damaging the local freshwater ecosystem.
• Economic Impact: Fishers have reported a drastic reduction in their typical catches of high-value native species since 2016, directly impacting their primary source of income.

Challenges to Sustainable Development Goals

The proliferation of the snakehead fish presents direct challenges to the achievement of several SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The loss of traditional fishing income threatens the economic stability of local communities, jeopardizing decent work and pushing households towards poverty.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water) & SDG 15 (Life on Land): The invasive species directly undermines the conservation of freshwater biodiversity (a key aspect of SDG 14) and contravenes the goal of controlling invasive alien species to protect ecosystems (Target 15.8).

Community-Led Solutions for Sustainable Development

In response, the local fishing community is proposing innovative solutions that transform an environmental threat into a sustainable opportunity, directly contributing to the SDGs.

1. Promotion of Angler Tourism

   A proposal has been made to develop angler tourism focused on catching the large snakehead fish, which cannot be caught effectively with traditional nets. This initiative supports:

   • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Creates a new revenue stream and diversifies the local economy beyond traditional fishing and farming.
   • SDG 1 (No Poverty): Provides alternative livelihoods for villagers, enhancing economic resilience.

2. Value-Added Product Development

   Local entrepreneurs are processing the snakehead fish into salted, dried fish, a popular delicacy with growing market demand. This strategy aligns with:

   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Creates a valuable commodity from a problematic invasive species, turning an environmental liability into a production asset.
   • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Contributes to local food supply with a new, popular food product.
   • SDG 14 (Life Below Water): The growing demand for the product incentivizes the capture of the snakehead fish, providing a market-based mechanism for controlling the invasive population and protecting native species.

Conclusion

The situation in Deduru Oya is a compelling case study in adaptive resource management. By converting an invasive species threat into economic ventures, the community is actively working towards achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals. This approach demonstrates a pathway to resilience that balances ecological protection with sustainable economic prosperity.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article highlights the threat to the traditional livelihood of fishermen due to the invasive species. It also explores the creation of new economic opportunities, such as angler tourism and producing dried fish, which relate to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and decent work.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The initiative to turn the invasive snakehead fish, a threat, into a valuable product like “salted dried fish” is a direct example of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. It involves creating value from a problematic biological resource, turning a threat into an economic good.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The article discusses the disruption of a freshwater aquatic ecosystem (the Deduru Oya reservoir) by an invasive species. This directly impacts the health of the ecosystem and the populations of native fish and shellfish, connecting to the goal of conserving and sustainably using aquatic resources.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This goal is highly relevant as its targets specifically address the management of invasive alien species and the protection of biodiversity in inland freshwater ecosystems. The core issue of the snakehead fish damaging the local ecosystem and threatening native species falls squarely under this SDG.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.” The proposal by Ranjith Kumara to “promote angler tourism as a consistent control method, which could also provide alternative economic avenues to the villagers” directly aligns with this target.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The fishers’ effort to catch the invasive snakehead and process it into a “popular delicacy” of dried fish is an example of sustainably managing and using a new, albeit problematic, natural resource.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts…” Although the article focuses on a freshwater reservoir, the principle of protecting an aquatic ecosystem from the “significant adverse impacts” of an invasive species is directly relevant. The article notes the snakehead’s presence can “damage the local ecosystem that evolved over millennia.”

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity…” The article describes how the invasive fish is causing a “dwindling number of the fish they have been typically catching,” including “small prawns and other high-value varieties,” which constitutes a loss of biodiversity.
  • Target 15.8: “By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.” This is the most direct target. The entire article is about the impact of an “invasive fish” and the community’s attempts to “control the snakehead population.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress:

• Population of native species: Progress towards Target 15.5 (halting biodiversity loss) could be measured by tracking the population of native species. The article provides a baseline concern: “we used to catch small prawns and other high-value varieties, but now they’ve become very rare.” An increase in the catch of these native species would indicate success.
• Population and spread of the invasive species: To measure success for Target 15.8 (controlling invasive species), the population density and geographic spread of the snakehead fish in the reservoir could be monitored. The article notes they are “appearing in droves,” so a reduction in their numbers would be a key indicator.
• Economic diversification and income: For Target 8.9 (sustainable tourism and jobs), progress could be measured by the number of new tourism-related activities (e.g., guided angling tours) and the income generated from them. The article suggests this as a new “alternative economic avenue.”
• Volume of value-added products: Progress towards Target 12.2 (sustainable use of resources) can be indicated by the volume and market value of products created from the invasive species. The article mentions one fisherman “produces salted dried fish” and is “working to further develop this business” as “demand continues to grow.” Tracking this production and demand would be a direct indicator.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: finedayradio.com