UN research vessel to begin survey in Sri Lankan waters after 2025 snub

The survey is expected to provide updated information to support sustainable fisheries management and ocean governance in the country

The United Nations-flagged research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is to carry out a marine scientific survey in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  

The survey will be conducted jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources and the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), following an invitation from the Sri Lankan government. The 32-day mission aims to collect critical scientific data on marine living resources and ecosystems in Sri Lankan waters.  

The research is expected to provide updated information to support sustainable fisheries management and ocean governance in the country.  

During the survey, scientists will conduct several activities, including hydro-acoustic studies to estimate the biomass and distribution of key fish stocks, assessments of marine pollution levels, and biodiversity monitoring across Sri Lanka’s maritime zone. The research will also help understand how climate change is affecting marine ecosystems in the region.  

Capacity building is a key component of the programme. The mission will bring together Sri Lankan scientists from NARA and other national institutions with international experts, enabling knowledge sharing and strengthening scientific collaboration.  

Sri Lanka denied entry to the UN-flagged research vessel R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in May 2025, forcing it to redirect to Madagascar. The cancellation was due to delays in finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign vessels, following a one-year moratorium on such ships. The vessel was scheduled to conduct crucial deep-sea ecosystem research and stock assessments.   

Sri Lanka previously hosted the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 2018, when the vessel conducted a comprehensive survey of the country’s continental shelf and upper slope alongside national institutions. Earlier Nansen surveys were also carried out in Sri Lankan waters between 1978 and 1980, reflecting a long-standing partnership under the Nansen Programme.