Sri Lanka to join Indian Ocean Coastal Alliance

Thursday, 22 January 2026 05:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Indian Ocean Coastal Alliance, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in fisheries management.

The proposed alliance seeks to enhance collaboration among member countries, improve the livelihoods of fisheries communities, develop fish populations and ensure the sustainable management of fisheries resources across the Indian Ocean region.

The tuna fisheries industry makes a significant contribution to national economies in the region, supporting food security, employment generation, and the socio-economic stability of coastal communities.

However, overfishing has raised concerns over declining fish stocks and potential threats to long-term food security.

In response, it has been proposed to form the Indian Ocean Coastal Alliance through an MoU among Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Pakistan, Somalia, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The initiative is intended to strengthen cooperation in the sustainable management of tuna fisheries resources