Field notes from Sri Lanka: Samara’s journey with seahorses
Since July, Project Seahorse PhD candidate and researcher Samara Polwatta has travelled across eight of Sri Lanka’s coastal districts, speaking with more than 200 fishers, traders, divers, and other community members. Here, she shares what she is learning about seahorse fisheries, trade, and the cultural connections people have with seahorses.
Sri Lanka, though small in size, is remarkably diverse, with shifting ecological zones, varied weather, and people from vibrant ethnic backgrounds. My recent fieldwork took me to coastal areas I had never visited before, including towns that were once high-security zones during the final stages of the civil war in 2009. Walking through these places today, meeting beautiful souls, and experiencing the diversity of local coastal cities was deeply moving. From July to the end of August, I conducted 200+ interviews with fishers, traders, divers, and other stakeholders across 8 of Sri Lanka’s 14 coastal districts. This work is part of a national-scale study on seahorse fisheries and trade, with the Northern Province as the next phase.
The topic of seahorses sparked genuine excitement among interviewees. For many fishers, seahorses are more than marine species; they are symbols of luck and protection. It is common to find a dried seahorse kept at home to ward off evil, bring wealth, and increase prosperity. In some communities, seahorses are also tied to traditional medicine and used in remedies for asthma that have been passed down through generations. Each encounter revealed new stories, beliefs, and practices, reminding me that fisheries are as much cultural as they are ecological.
Through this fieldwork, I began to learn what I call the “fishers’ language”: their own methods of measurement, local names for fishes, and even songs sung while using beach seines. These interviews provided insights into seahorse bycatch, local trade dynamics, and the cultural significance of seahorses in coastal livelihoods. The data collected will contribute to building a national-level database on seahorse fisheries and trade, supporting evidence-based conservation measures and informing policy discussions.
The journey is not yet complete. I look forward to wrapping up the fieldwork along the northern coast and beginning the next phase: a survey on bottom trawling in Sri Lanka. This work would not be possible without the openness of fishers, traders, and communities who shared their knowledge and experiences. Their voices are central to shaping conservation strategies that respect both ecosystems and livelihoods.
Click here to learn more about our work in Sri Lanka.