Sri Lanka to host international marine life conference in 2016
May 29, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will host the second International conference on marine mammals in the Indian ocean to help promote and encourage conservation of the species around the island, an official said.
“Our job is to ensure that this rich bio-diversity and habitat of these animals are protected,” Prof Lakdas Fernando, President, Wildlife and nature protection society of Sri Lanka said.
“Unless we take precautions and regulatory measures and encourage the researchers to work we will be failing in our duties,’
“To achieve this end there needs to be an understanding and active involvement of governmental authorities, the public and politicians.”
Recent data shows that there are four groups of marine mammals in the seas around Sri Lanka.
They are the Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and Dugongs and the waters around island can lay claim to 28 species of the 38 found in the Indian ocean.
Therefore, Prof Fernando says that whilst we should be proud of this fact we should also take steps to protect this precious asset.
“This is almost 75 percent of the species found in the Indian ocean,”
“So we while we tell the world and boast about we must also take the necessary measures to protect these animals.”
The conference will be held from 27 – 28 February 2016 in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.
