The research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, operating under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is scheduled to reach Sri Lanka today (11) to begin a scientific survey within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The mission is being conducted at the invitation of the Sri Lankan government and will be carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
The survey will last for 32 days and aims to gather important scientific information related to marine living resources and ocean ecosystems. Data collected during the mission will help improve fisheries management and strengthen ocean governance in Sri Lanka.
Scientists aboard the vessel will conduct hydro-acoustic surveys to measure the abundance and distribution of key fish stocks in Sri Lankan waters. Additional research activities will include monitoring biodiversity and assessing pollution levels in the marine environment.
The mission will also facilitate collaboration between Sri Lankan researchers and international experts, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and scientific cooperation.
Sri Lanka previously hosted the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 2018 for a major study of the country’s continental shelf and upper slope. Earlier surveys were also carried out between 1978 and 1980 as part of the long-running Nansen Programme.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Sri Lanka’s participation in the latest mission demonstrates its continued commitment to sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, and international scientific collaboration in the Indian Ocean region.
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