Advancing Seahorse Conservation in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Samara Polwatta Lekamlage was a semi-finalist in the 2026 UBC Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. Samara presented the research titled “Advancing Seahorse conservation in Sri Lanka.” Seahorses are globally threatened due to habitat loss, overexploitation, and bycatch, yet their status in Sri Lanka remains largely undocumented. Five resident species continue to face pressures that are poorly understood, leaving conservation efforts without the evidence needed to act effectively. This research addresses this critical gap by combining ecological surveys, community knowledge, and expert insight in the hope to contribute to Sri Lanka’s first seahorse conservation baseline and provide a framework that can guide policy, strengthen enforcement, and support conservation planning for other threatened marine species. Samara Polwatta Lekamlage is completing a PhD in Oceans and Fisheries in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries under the supervision of Professor Amanda Vincent #3MT is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. For more information or to participate in UBC’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) visit https://3mt.grad.ubc.ca.