ECONOMYNEXT – The United Nations-flagged analysis vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen arrived in Sri Lanka for a joint marine survey, the island nation’s International Ministry mentioned, after the ship was delayed from finishing up the identical job eight months in the past.
Dr. Fridtjof Nansen analysis vessel helps nations in accumulating essential scientific knowledge for sustainable fisheries administration and in understanding how local weather change impacts marine ecosystems.
“The survey spanning 32 days will concentrate on assessing marine residing assets and marine ecosystems, offering up to date scientific knowledge that can help Sri Lanka’s sustainable fisheries administration and ocean governance,” Sri Lanka’s International Ministry mentioned in an announcement.
“In the course of the mission, scientists will undertake a spread of actions together with hydro-acoustic surveys to estimate the biomass and distribution of key fish shares in Sri Lankan waters; evaluation of marine air pollution ranges; and biodiversity monitoring.”
The go to is predicted to construct capability because the mission will deliver collectively Sri Lankan scientists from NARA and different nationwide establishments with worldwide consultants, selling scientific collaboration and information change.
Sri Lanka beforehand final hosted Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 2018, when the vessel performed a complete survey of Sri Lanka’s continental shelf and higher slope in collaboration with nationwide establishments.
Earlier Nansen surveys have been additionally carried out in Sri Lankan waters in 1978–1980, reflecting a long-standing scientific partnership below the Nansen program.
Approval for a similar ship to conduct analysis was delayed when it arrived in Sri Lankan waters final July.
The UN’s Meals and Agriculture Group (FAO) determined to cancel the marine analysis round Sri Lanka in July as a result of it didn’t have well timed approval as a consequence of Sri Lanka’s delay.
The cancellation of the go to was estimated to have brought on direct losses of over $1 million to Sri Lanka. After the FAO’s cancellation Sri Lankan authorities requested to hold out the analysis.
Sri Lanka’s delay concerning the UN’s FAO analysis vessel was because of the authorities’s delay in formulating normal working procedures (SOP) to deal with overseas analysis vessels.
Repeated requests from the UN and FAO have been rejected by Sri Lanka’s International Ministry because of the lack of an SOP in place. The SOP was anticipated to be in place early this month. (Colombo/March 12/2026)
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