## 🌊 Sri Lanka Joins Indian Ocean Coastal Alliance for Sustainable Fisheries

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Indian Ocean Coastal Alliance, focusing on regional cooperation and the long-term viability of the maritime economy. • Objective: Strengthening collaboration among 11 member nations to manage fisheries resources, specifically addressing the decline in fish stocks due to overfishing. • Economic Impact: The alliance prioritizes the tuna fisheries industry, which is a vital driver for Sri Lanka’s food security, employment, and the socio-economic stability of coastal communities. • Key Focus Areas: Sustainable management of tuna populations. Improving livelihoods within the fisheries sector. Enhancing regional food security and resource development. • Member Nations: Sri Lanka joins Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Pakistan, Somalia, and South Africa in this multilateral initiative. 🇰🇼 _Note: Summary based on Cabinet approval reports as of January 22, 2026._ ---