Archive · 22 Sep 2025
Sri Lankan Anglers Combat Invasive Fish in Unique Competition
In Sri Lanka, anglers held a competition to catch a type of fish called the giant snakehead.
This fish is not from Sri Lanka and is hurting the environment by eating other fish.
Over 1,000 people joined the event, but only a few fish were caught.
The goal is to reduce the number of these invasive fish so that native fish can thrive again.
The competition winner got a prize, and organizers hope to hold more events to help protect the local fish and ecosystem.
In addition, Sri Lanka is banning the import and sale of other invasive fish species.
A fishing competition was held in Sri Lanka to target invasive giant snakehead fish.
The competition took place on the Deduru Oya river.
Over 1,000 anglers participated in the event.
The goal is to protect native fish by reducing the snakehead population.
Sri Lanka also banned the import and sale of other invasive fish species.
- Who
- Anglers, including Nissanka Arachchige Vimukthi Sandaruwan and commercial fisherman Sriyan Janaka.
- What
- A fishing competition to catch invasive giant snakehead fish.
- When
- Saturday.
- Where
- Deduru Oya river, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- To protect native fish species and help the ecosystem recover.
- Location
- Deduru Oya river, Sri Lanka
- Event
- Fishing competition against invasive fish
- Target Species
- Giant snakehead fish
- Winning Angler
- Nissanka Arachchige Vimukthi Sandaruwan
- Prize
- 25,000 rupees, fishing rod, and tackle