Institutional Innovations towards Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries: An Assessment of Co-Management Approach in Lobster and Giant Freshwater Prawns Fisheries, Sri Lanka

Institutions are critical components of fisheries governance, playing a significant role in its operation and effectiveness. While various institutions facilitate the functioning of the fisheries sector, their role is particularly critical in the small-scale fisheries subsector, which faces greater threats from anthropogenic pressures such as high resource exploitation and increasing fishing pressure. This study evaluates the institutional frameworks governing lobster and giant freshwater prawn fisheries to identify gaps and propose innovative interventions based on Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) guidelines. Primary data were collected from both industries through stakeholder meetings with experts, key informant interviews with exporters, and interviewer-administered questionnaires with fishers. The analysis revealed that the institutional framework involves local and central government bodies, NGOs, and community organizations, tasked with access provision, regulation, risk reduction, operational structuring, and resource conservation. However, significant gaps were identified, including outdated legislative frameworks, limited research and development efforts, time and financial constraints, insufficient export promotion programs, and weak institutional linkages. To address these issues, the study recommends institutional innovations such as strengthened government-private partnerships and community-based co-management approaches. These strategies can enhance governance and sustainability in Sri Lanka’s lobster and giant freshwater prawn fisheries, ensuring their alignment with global trends and contributing to long-term resource conservation and economic resilience.