The government of Sri Lanka has received backlash following its decision to exclude land from the Vidataltivu nature reserve, reportedly intended for the development of industrial aquaculture.
The Sri Lankan government has reportedly set aside over 400 acres of land from the Vidataltivu nature reserve for the development of an industrial aquaculture operation. The decision has resulted in strong backlash from conservationists and the general public.
According to a recent report the land, which previously was designated as part of the nature reserve, is being considered for release to facilitate the expansion of a prawn farming operation run by Taprobane Seafood – a company already facing criticism for its environmental impact. Potentially related to this expansion, Direct Source Seafood – an American company specialising in the import of crab and prawn – recently forged a strategic partnership with Taprobane.
In 2017, the National Aquaculture Development Authority attempted to divert parts of the Vidataltivu reserve for the industrial farming of fish, crab, and shrimp, however this plan was abandoned due to the strong public outcry of conservationists and community members. The public objection to the plans were based on the importance of the ecosystems found within the reserve, which is a haven for a high density of migrating birds and iconic species, such as dugongs.
In addition to the public outcry over the reduction of the nature reserve area, the apparent involvement of high-ranking government officials in a process which reportedly did not follow the due process of environmental impact assessment has sparked outrage amongst the public. Whilst there has been a strong and clear community backlash to the decision, it is unclear whether this will move the government to revoke its decision.