The Ambassador of Norway to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther, stated that the Norwegian Research Vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen would make it possible to significantly step up Norway’s assistance for ecosystem-based marine management in developing countries, such as Sri Lanka.
He stated this upon addressing the gathering at an event to recognize the finalization of the schedules for the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen’s arrival at the Bay of Bengal.
The Ambassador further stated that the vessel’s arrival in the Bay of Bengal was part of the new ocean strategy of Norway.
“Norway considers this as creating partnerships for the oceans as it enhances sharing knowledge both across industries and across international borders, he said.
The vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen will be venturing into Sri Lankan waters in 2018 in order to carry out a survey on the marine resources of Sri Lanka.
Issuing a press release, the Royal Embassy of Norway explained that it would be part of the technical and institutional cooperation on Fisheries between Norway and Sri Lanka, “which was endorsed by the top level political authorities of the two countries”.
According to the release, the aim of the planned survey is to understand the current status of marine resources, including fish stocks, and to investigate stocks of unexploited/ underutilized fishery resources on the continental shelf and slope.
“The last stock assessment for Sri Lanka has been carried out by the previous Dr. Fridtjof Nansen in 1978 to 1980,” the release further said.
The new marine research vessel RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen is owned by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and is jointly operated by the Institute of Marine Research of Norway, and Food and Agriculture Organization to help developing countries improve their fisheries management.
