This document is the third report of bottom set longlining trials conducted by BOBP in cooperation with the Ministry of Fisheries, Sri Lanka. The two earlier reports covered trials off the south west coast of Sri Lanka between October 1979 and March 1980 (BOBP/WP/6) and on the east and west coasts of Sri Lanka during August 1980 - July 1981 (BOBP/WP/16). This report summarizes the results of the trials conducted between 1981 and 1983 and also discusses biological information obtained from the trials during the period 1979 - 82.

The report concludes that bottom longlining might be a viable alternative fishery for both the 28-footers and the 18’ GRP boats during the lean season for driftnet fisheries. This conclusion is based on trials conducted in Negombo, 1981 /82 and Puduwakattuwa, Dehiwala, Panadura and Ratmalana, 1982/83.

This report, and the trials on which it is based, are activities of the small-scale fisheries project of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP). It began in 1979 and covers five countries bordering the Bay of Bengal — Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Funded by SIDA (Swedish International Development Authority) and executed by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), the project seeks to develop, demonstrate and promote appropriate technologies and methodologies to improve the conditions of small-scale fisherfolk and the supply of fish from the small-scale sector in the member countries.