The Life Below Water

Who are aquatic animals? They are animals who live in various water forms, such as seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds. Sri Lanka is a blessed country that is surrounded by sea all around it and filled with heavy waterfalls and rivers. It’s like a watery heaven for aquatic life. Ongoing research shows that the greatest number of endemic amphibians in the world could soon be found in Sri Lanka!

The National Red List 2020 assessment shows that of 97 freshwater fish species have been determined to be threatened and 61 of them are endemic to Sri Lanka. Among them, the red list classified 12 as critically endangered, 24 as endangered, and 9 species as vulnerable. In addition, five species listed as near - threatened, two species listed poorly documented, and the remaining are listed as least concern. According to the red list review, they assessed 36 non-endemic freshwater fish species that are on the threatened list.

Unfortunately, some incidents are exposing this aquatic life to danger. Definitely, you know the biggest marine crisis in Sri Lanka has taken place in real-time. The ship X-Press Pearl sank in early June after it had been on fire for a few days while hundreds of dead sea animals washed up on beaches. Also, climate change, habitat transformation, and unsustainable resource exploitation are threatening aquatic life. Anyway, the threats aren’t limited to coastal and marine activities. Our act of negligence could also be the reason for their lives being endangered.

"The aquatic environment must be safeguarded by men. God created mankind to care for the environment and all the living resources. "

- Lailah Gifty Akita -

As a nation, stepping up aquatic life welfare is needed. Compared to other living animals, it remains blank for aquatic animals. However, some points such as enriched environment, feed composition and feeding, space requirements, and water quality are taken into consideration in aquatic animal welfare.

Some activities can be planned to step into major conservation by reducing overfishing, illegal fishing, marine pollution, and tackling the impacts of climate change by strengthening rules and regulations as a country. Also, we can all begin it within ourselves, by engaging in aquatic plantations, beach clean-up projects, water body clean-up projects, and helping with monetary donations to the organizations that organize aquatic life conservation projects.

So, why let them in danger when you can save them? I encourage you all to help protect these aquatic animals’ lives in every way you can. Every small step that we take individually can become a giant step together.

- Rtr. Dinushika Chithrani -