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TRINCOMALEE BAY SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA Page | 57
H. SWOT analysis
255. SWOT analysis was undertaken using information from user groups, NGOs/CBOs
and state sector agencies, other secondary information and data collected from field studies.
1. Strengths
256. Large areas of the bay extending from Thampalagamam to Muthur provide areas of
water that can be used for the social and economic benefit of communities;
257. High ecosystem / Habitat diversity;
258. Presence of large extent of mangrove vegetation particularly in Thampalagamam bay
and Kaddaiparichchan lagoon;
259. High level of fauna and flora diversity particularly avifauna and aquatic fauna;
260. Diverse, large fish population in the estuary;
261. Frequent sightings of whales and dolphin which provide high potential for tourism;
262. Scenic and cultural areas for tourism;
2. Weaknesses
263. No weaknesses reported or observed.
3. Opportunities
264. Conservation of aquatic fauna and flora;
265. Management of the bay ecosystem through the amelioration of adverse
environmental activities in the SAM Plan buffer zone;
266. Management of the ground water recharge process and maintenance of the ground
water level in the buffer zone;
267. High potential for eco-tourism development;
268. Recreation facilities for local communities;
269. Fishing is the most important dependency of local communities on bay resources;
270. There are opportunities for controlled aquaculture development but these should be
managed under environmental friendly management guidelines developed by CEA and
NAQDA;
271. Opportunities for agriculture development in the buffer zone using water from the
upstream areas of Mahaweli river estuary;
272. Possibility of expanding mini saltern projects in the buffer zone;
273. Higher potential for whale and dolphin based tourism activities;
274. Potential of ecotourism development in Upparu and Mahaweli river estuaries;