Anglers Unite to Save Sri Lanka's Native Fish from Invasive Threat

In an extraordinary effort to protect Sri Lanka's native fish, a unique fishing competition took center stage in the country's central region. More than 1,000 anglers competed to catch the invasive giant snakehead fish, with Nissanka Arachchige Vimukthi Sandaruwan claiming victory by reeling in three of the elusive creatures.

The competition endeavored to control the population of the giant snakehead, a species native to southeast Asia now considered invasive in multiple countries. These fish pose an ecological threat when kept as pets and subsequently released into the wild, where they disrupt local ecosystems.

Although only 22 fish were caught, the event garnered significant attention. Organizers aim to hold the competition repeatedly as part of a larger conservation strategy, which includes a new governmental ban on the import, possession, breeding, and sale of other invasive fish species in Sri Lanka.